Expos Teachers Attack Buell Letter

Some teachers in the Expository Writing program are criticizing a letter Dean for Undergraduate Education Lawrence Buell sent to them last week following the publication of a three-part Crimson series on Expos.

Buell's letter, which was obtained by The Crimson, criticizes the series and says that University Hall will not change its approach to Expos despite the concerns and criticisms expressed by 71 former and current Expos teachers in the article.

"In the wake of The Crimson's three-part expose I wanted to write you this short note to assure you, if assurance be needed, that its reportage has neither expressed nor influenced the views of University Hall on the subject," Buell wrote.

"I am sorry that The Crimson saw fit to dwell to such an extent on its overblown charges of program mismanagement without giving due recognition to the effective and extremely important teaching that goes on in the Expository Writing program."

Ten current teachers interviewed over the weekend say the letter and administrative response have been unsatisfactory because they seek to blame The Crimson rather than deal with the concerns raised in the articles.

"They clearly don't understand, or care to understand, our criticisms," one current teacher said.

Buell refused comment last night.

In contrast to Buell, Associate Director of Expository Writing Nancy Sommers said yesterday that she would use the criticisms expressed in the series as a jumping off point for discussion and reevaluation of current Expos policies.

Sommers also said she expected issues raised by the series to be discussed during the annual gathering of the Standing Faculty Committee on Expository Writing next month. She said the program may have a special meeting to discuss concerns raised by teachers in the series.

Sommers said she was certain that issues contained in the series would be discussed in meetings of new internal Expos teacher committees in the upcoming weeks. The teacher committees will examine three major issues: assignments, evaluations and classroom practices.

Sommers did, however, praise the Buell letter."I think the letter was a very comforting one forteachers," Sommers said.

Sommers said she wanted to reexamine theadministrative structure of the department, whiththe hope of including the ideas of more teachers.Many teachers said in interviews that thetop-heavy hierarchy of Expos made it nearlyimpossible for teachers to transform their ideasinto action.

Sommers also said she would study thefeasibility of introducing a Writing Across theCurriculum program similar to that used atStanford and the University of Pennsylvania.Teachers and administrators argue that such aprogram could make Expository Writing moreconnected to the rest of the University.

"My sense is this is a chance for leadership,"Sommers said. "My sense is this is a chance forchange.

Sommers did, however, praise the Buell letter."I think the letter was a very comforting one forteachers," Sommers said.

Sommers said she wanted to reexamine theadministrative structure of the department, whiththe hope of including the ideas of more teachers.Many teachers said in interviews that thetop-heavy hierarchy of Expos made it nearlyimpossible for teachers to transform their ideasinto action.

Sommers also said she would study thefeasibility of introducing a Writing Across theCurriculum program similar to that used atStanford and the University of Pennsylvania.Teachers and administrators argue that such aprogram could make Expository Writing moreconnected to the rest of the University.

"My sense is this is a chance for leadership,"Sommers said. "My sense is this is a chance forchange.