Re: issues of power

[stephend@GVSU.EDU (DENISE STEPHENSON)]

I don't know of writings on the issue, but I certainly know the issue well. I 
was just figuring out how to deal with a similar situation myself. It's touchy. 
In my case, as director, I have some clout. On the other hand, it's someone 
else's class--academic freedom and all--it's not clear cut and we're not 
necessarily seen as helpful in that situation, rather, we're seen as 
threatening. In my case, the WC has an integral relationship with the frosh 
comp. program. Tutors work with small groups from specific classes every week. 
I've decided to have a tutor make the first contact and going in asking for 
clarification of the assignments (which aren't spelled out in writing anywhere) 
with the faculty. A tutor can ask this as a way of wanting to help the student. 
As a tutor, they don't have access to what is said in the classroom and maybe 
the faculty will be helpful. We'll see. I'm also planning to bring this up with 
the writing committee in the English dept. The "this" is the need to write 
assignments out. The main writing faculty realize this, but all English faculty 
rotate through these course and they might benefit from a little guidance like 
that. 

Denise Stephenson
stephend@gvsu.edu
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI 49401

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: issues of power
Author:  wcenter@ttacs6.ttu.edu at Internet
Date:    9/24/96 6:53 PM


>I was wondering if anyone could help me. I am looking for references to do 
with WCenters and power; not internal power, but power issues between 
Writing Centre staff and the wider academic community, especially 
credibility issues.
     
Recently, a colleague became aware of a problem in an assignment that many 
students were bringing to the Writing Centre. The students were very puzzled 
by the assignment topic, and when she looked at it she could see that the 
wording and the instructions were ambiguous and confusing. So, she went to 
see the professor involved. She is a tactful person, and I believe she would 
have handled her queries gently, but she was met with strong hostility and 
given the impression that since she was not, according to his reckoning, an 
academic, she had no right (and she inferred, insufficient status) to 
interfere in how he runs his course.
     
I gave her a second opinion on the assignment, and there definitely is a 
problem.So, I am curious to know: have any of you had this experience 
before? Do you think it the role of a Writing Centre staff member to speak 
to a professor about such concerns? And, of most interest to me, has anyone 
written anything about this?
     
Lisa Emerson
     
Lisa Emerson
Writing Centre 
Massey University
Palmerston North
New Zealand
     
ph 06-3502251
fax 6-3502251
email L.Emerson@massey.ac.nz