March 25, 1997 @° The Panther Prints

letters to the editor...

in response to

CFS bias?

artistic freedom

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the letter on artistic freedom in the March 18 edition of the Panther Prints. First of all, commenting on a writing method is an English professor’s reason for being, and not at all “out of place”, as G.D. would wish to think. Secondly, the probable reason for the professor to comment on the G.D.’s friends’ academic career likely has to do with the seriousness of getting kicked out of a university course. This isn’t high school, where you get sent to the principal’s office for being a bad little boy; you are in university now. Accept it. Also, like G.D., I too have a friend in that creative writing class. She tells a much different story. According to her, G.D.’s friends constantly disrupted the professor while she was lecturing. Note to G.D.’s friends: you are no longer in high school. It is neither amusing nor appropriate to interrupt your professor and be the class clown. You are in university now, and you are an adult; act like it. Secondly, my friend also informs me that the students were not being what G.D. euphemistically calls ““over-opinionated”; they were being insulting and derogatory to other student’s writing. This kind of “opinion” has absolutely no place in a Creative Writing course; the type of writing these students partake in is hard enough to share with others, and they don’t need to hear ignorant comments aimed at their work. There is a big difference between an insult and constructive criticism; if you are not sure of this distinction, look it up.

However, my comments, like G.D.’s are based on here- say. Therefore, I wish to address the more serious accusations made by G.D. in regards to the so-called lack of artistic freedom in the English Department. This indictment against my depart- ment is an utter fallacy. The English professors at UPEI live for “passion.. individuality and originality” (touse G.D.’s words) in their classes. A professor of mine was delighted that a seminar I was to give was the opposite view of her lecture; it opens up the discussion to the conflicting views and theories that are the intrinsic to the study of literature. The professor is not God, and s/he will not fling to the burning lake in chains because you question them. Questioning is the point of class. By the way, students generally are comfortable in their under- standing of the artists we study---this is why we take English. As well, I have been handed back more than one paper which has comments such as “although I do not agree with your opinion...” In papers, as well, it is very difficult to hide behind the skirts of anonymity, and these papers received A’s not the F’s that G.D. would like students to believe. Do you know why? The professors are ADULTS, that’s why. In short, in all of my four years spent at this university, I have never, ever, felt my artistic and academic freedom threatened by the English department. As a matter of fact, without their encouragement, I wouldn’t be an English student today.

_hies Great Movies -Downtown-

( Cid. 64 King St. 368-3669 pomeneemenssasc canted!

DAMN PROUD to be an English student, Melissa Doucette