NOW I know why Deb said it was an awful morning even for a Monday!
I know you all hardly ever get recognized, but personally I am very grateful for Sue's attention to detail, Deb's willingness to run down to the computer lab at any given moment in time, and Kathy's ready sense-of-humor.
I wish April was still in charge of registration!!
So very interesting developments. Did you all know that a similar attempt to nudge up enrollment figures occurred just long enough ago that its not in most current students' memory? I think it would be cool if any involved parties wanted to share your recollections.
So, us TA's have been asked to over enroll our classes because, "Typically between 10% and 25% of students initially registered for a class drop by the third week (often DURING the third week).
I can only speak for myself, but in the four classes I've taught over the last two years it has been quite rare for a student to drop. It's happened a few times, yes, but no where near even the lowest 10% mark. Maybe the dept has stats to back up this claim?
"Ah, the rich irony is that I've tried to post this a few times over the past 24
hours, and it refuses to let me do so, with a message that says I am unable to
post because it is on a topic 'deemed controversial: men.'"
Todd sent me these (among other) questions awhile ago. I think the timing is good to answer them now because I basically threw down the gauntlet to my blogmates from DRP.
1. Do you remember the first time you thought, "hey I want to create a blog!" That is my "!" You might not have had a "!" when you thought of it.
When I learned about blogs, my "!" was the ability to combine two things: group dynamics (including discourse) and publicity (like Peter Wiggins of Ender's Game). Not that I identify with him in terms of personality or scale of ambition!
3. Do you think your "voice" or "identity" as changed since you started your blog?
My "voice", perhaps, but not my "identity." I think of voice more like representation, and I've tried to spice things up a bit. Early reviews found my writing dry, dull, and deadly. :-) I always wonder if people experience my writing as pedantic. (Do you?) As for my identity - in terms of my presentation or performance of self, I think I'm pretty consistent, but again, I don't know if others agree...?
Todd sent me these questions awhile ago. I think the timing is good to answer them. Since I threw down the guantlet to my blogmates from DRP.
1. Do you remember the first time you thought, "hey I want to create a blog!" That is my "!" You might not have had a "!" when you thought of it.
When I learned about blogs, my "!" was the ability to combine two things: group dynamics (including discourse) and publicity (like Peter Wiggins of Ender's Game). Not in terms of personality or scale of ambition!
3. Do you think your "voice" or "identity" as changed since you started your blog?
My "voice", perhaps, but not my "identity." I think of voice more like representation, and I've tried to spice things up a bit. Early reviews found my writing dry, dull, and deadly. :-) I always wonder if people experience my writing as pedantic. (do you?) As for my identity - in terms of my presentation or performance of self, I think I'm pretty consistent, but again, I don't know if others agree...?
There's a concerted effort by members of the UMass campus to generate aid for survivors of the natural disaster in Southeast Asia. You do not need to be a member of the UMass community to help. Please scroll to the end for URLS and contact info for direct donations, or contact one of these folk:
Swati Birla, Department of Public Health
sbirla@schoolph.umass.edu OR sbirla@donahue.umassp.eduİİ
Sirisha Naidu, Resource Economics Dept
naidu@resecon.umass.edu
Anu M Sundaram, Polymer Science Department
anu_revathy@yahoo.co.in
Steph Kent, Communication Department
kentcon@sover.net
