<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">A few weeks ago I emailed the list serve in a desperate attempt to get some answers regarding what classes would be offered for winter quarter. What I was looking for was a list of class descriptions put together by the faculty that details what classes are being offered, what the format of the class will be, what the reading lists will be, and how much work to expect. I was told to wait and look it up when the schedule of classes was released. I still hoped some of the teachers would read my email and send me the information I requested so that I could compile it for them and then distribute the master list to all of the graduate students in our program. <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span">Well I waited, and my patience was a huge waste of time. The schedule of classes is for the most part totally useless. It does not give us reading lists, it does not offer specifics, and often times it does not even tell us who will be teaching the class. After my first email, only one faculty member responded to my email. <B>ONE</B><B> !!!</B> Plenty of people stopped me on campus to tell me they shared my frustrations - students and teachers.. "good for you," they said - and yet no one did anything. Are we really <I>that </I>busy?</SPAN></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span">Most of the faculty already know what classes they will be teaching in Spring. I think the students should have that information as well. We are not simply planning one quarter, we are planning two full years, and what classes are being offered now verses in Spring could and should make a big difference in what we choose to register for. This is not an outlandish request. It is unacceptable that other than Professor Winer, who is on sabbatical and not even teaching this quarter, no one answered my call for help. Why aren't the teachers eager and able to help us get the most out of this program?</SPAN></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Rumors are flying around that Tom Lutz will be teaching a craft class on our campus next quarter. Why weren't we notified? How hard would it be to send out an email or stick a flyer in our boxes? I am assuming he would be a visiting or new professor which seems worthy of a little advertising. Most of us would jump at the chance to work with him, and yet the majority of us had no idea a class with him in Riverside was even an option.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The system is inefficient and here you have a motivated capable student offering to help free of cost. Please take advantage of it.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I care very deeply about this program, in fact I feel absolutely privileged to be here - On the first day of classes Susan Straight told us that it is our responsibility as students to make it the strongest and most prestigious writing program around- to make it as good as Irvine and Iowa - and I took that very seriously. I am willing to do my part - to read all that I can, to perfect my craft, and to learn what the professors on the campus have to teach me - I am here to do nothing if not work my absolute hardest, but along with my commitment comes an expectation that the administration and the faculty will do their part as well. There is no reason we can't work together to get organized.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Faculty - please send your class descriptions for this quarter and next to <A href="mailto:carlyrose@mac.com">carlyrose@mac.com</A> . It doesn't matter if you don't know when and where the class will be offered - just let us know what we can expect in the coming months.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I am sorry for the long rant, but I hope it will prove worth the time it took to compose, and the time you took to read it.</DIV><DIV>Thank you for doing so,</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Carly Kimmel</DIV></BODY></HTML>