Re: Lines of Reporting

["Carolyn Kinslow" <carolynk@cameron.edu>]

We usually have about 2000 student visits a semester to our writing 
center.  This semester I received funds for only one tutor, so I am 
tutoring 6-7 hours a day 5 days a week.  I do try to stop for lunch, 
but some days have been so hectic that I have not even done that.  
Clearly, this is not a good situation, but  I do not believe 
the quality of the sessions has been affected adversely.  
     The tenuous nature of this arrangement was highlighted in the 
last three weeks because my youngest son was in a serious car 
accident which left him with a broken neck, several skull fractures, 
and a potentially permanent eye injury. Naturally,  I wanted to be 
with him for the 8 days he spent in ICU, so the routine at the writing
center was completely disrupted when I took emergency leave.  
Fortunately, my wonderful  colleagues and many upper division 
students volunteered their time to keep the doors open at least some 
hours every day.  The point is, however, that having to rely on one 
person to do a job such as this one creates inevitable uncertainty.
I am hoping that more funding can somehow be found to increase 
our staff and decrease possible inconvenience to students.
     So Linda, no I do not think you are an ogre.  I believe that 
many of us are struggling to provide the services that students need 
with ever-shrinking budgets and that we are having to do things that 
we would prefer not to have to do.
Carolyn  
__________________________________________________

Carolyn Kinslow
Writing Center Director
Cameron University
2800 W. Gore Boulevard
Lawton, OK  73505-6377
(405) 581-2551
carolynk@cameron.edu
__________________________________________________