Re: Lines of Reporting

[Linda Coblentz <coblentz@dt.uh.edu>]

Jane,

My personal experience in tutoring says that you're right.  We're a
drop-in center with conferences from between 15 and 30 minutes. 
Sometimes we really do conference after coference after conference . . .
Sometimes we don't. If we don't, anyone who can stay in one place for
five hours can stay there.  If we do, excesses will surely occur. (I'm
always astonished by tears from either writers or tutors and sometimes
get both.  Writing is so weighed down with emotional traps!)  

Thank heavens someone admitted I am an ogre! I can't really bring any
official schedule relief to the oppressed tutor in the spring. (Many
political factors are at work.)  I can, though, train the other tutors
to rise up and recited together in the middle of her sentence when
things are not hot and heavy, "Break time, Gillian!  Go check your
coffee and your mail, call your kids, chat up your friends.  See you in
20 minutes."   

One of the things about Writing Centers is that we're good at taking
care of each other.  Perhaps that makes it even more imperative that
directors make these oppressive occasions come very, wery rarely.  How
awful to be part of this community and to take advantage of the
essential good will that it engenders.  

Linda Coblentz