Something surfaces that is a step further down the abyss.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA. Writing Center About Writing Center
Following is a statement that Writing Center professional staff, tutors, and the Director worked on extensively. It informs our center’s practices and on-going assessment efforts to improve our practices. STATEMENT ON ANTIRACIST AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK IN THE WRITING CENTER
Our Beliefs
The writing center works from several important beliefs that are crucial to helping writers write and succeed in a racist society. The racist conditions of our society are not simply a matter of bias or prejudice that some people hold. In fact, most racism, for instance, is not accomplished through intent. Racism is the normal condition of things. Racism is pervasive. It is in the systems, structures, rules, languages, expectations, and guidelines that make up our classes, school, and society. For example, linguistic and writing research has shown clearly for many decades that there is no inherent “standard” of English. Language is constantly changing. These two facts make it very difficult to justify placing people in hierarchies or restricting opportunities and privileges because of the way people communicate in particular versions of English.
Because we all live, work, learn, and communicate within such racist systems, the consultants in the writing center assume that a big part of our job is to help students become more critical of these unjust language structures as they affect students’ writing and the judgment of that writing. In particular, being aware of racism as structural offers students the best chances to develop as writers and succeed on their own terms in an inherently racist society.
Furthermore, by acknowledging and critiquing the systemic racism that forms parts of UWT and the languages and literacies expected in it, students and writing center consultants can cultivate a more socially just future for everyone. Just avoiding racism is not enough because it means we are doing nothing to stop racism at large, and it amounts to allowing racism to continue.
Our Commitment
The writing center consultants and staff promise to listen and look carefully and compassionately for ways that we may unintentionally perpetuate racism or social injustice, actively engaging in antiracist practices. For instance, we promise to:
be sensitive to our language practices (what we say or allow to be said) and other microaggressions that may make some people feel uncomfortable or feel in some way inferior; openly discuss social justice issues as they pertain to the writing at hand; emphasize the importance of rhetorical situations over grammatical “correctness” in the production of texts; be reflective and critical of the practices we engage in; provide students ways to be more aware of grammar as a rhetorical set of choices with various consequences; discuss racism and social justice issues openly in productive ways; advocate for the things that will make our Center safe, welcoming, productive, proactive; challenge conventional word choices and writing explanations; conduct on-going assessments of the work of the writing center, looking specifically for patterns or potential inequalities or oppressive practices that may be occurring in the Center.
We also realize that racism is connected to other forms of social injustice, such as classism, sexism, heteronormative assumptions, etc., in similar ways. We promise further to do our best to compassionately address these issues as they pertain to student writing as well.
The Writing Center at the University of Washington Tacoma is a part of the Teaching and Learning Center located in Snoqualmie 260, and is closely affiliated with the University Writing Program. All students can make an appointment to see a Writing Consultant in person or online. There are four ways the Center offers expert feedback on student writing. The Center also offers electronic resources for academic writing.
Translation: straight, male, patriotic white people who don't bemoan being any/all of the aforementioned will fail. LGBTQRSTUV, female, anti-American, non-white people get a pass because they aren't straight, male, patriotic and/or white. Bonus points with be allotted for those who are multiples of the second stanza. In other words, UDub is going to be overtly racist, sexist, anti-nationalistic, heterophobic, and discriminatory ... in the false name of being "diverse and inclusive".
Originally Posted by Mannlicher
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
Unbelievable. What these people are doing is figuratively burning all the books...you know---the ones that spell out and serve as the basis of the development of western civilization. So, when do we get fed up with these book burners and burn their universities to the ground? It's looking to me like it's going to be US or THEM.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
That has to be one of the most idiotic, mind stifling pieces of goofball blather I've ever read about "teaching writing."
What those stupid bliss ninny instructors/teachers are saying is "We're going to teach you how to write nothing but what we believe is politically correct. Any student not marching in lock step with our dictates will flunk the course."
The last thing a "teacher" should ever tell a wannabee writer is "You are restricted to write only what we approve." Those instructors/teachers should be fired!
Guarantee the wannabee writers taking that Marxist Socialist inspired nonsensical course will NEVER become successful writers. The greatest assets a writer can have are unlimited imagination, complete freedom of thought, a vast knowledge of the greatest writers' novels, and more guts than a slaughter house.
That's what it takes and if one's brain has been bound with the constricting iron straps of political correctness, one had better take up clerking at the local 7-11. He'll go farther.
Oh, and it never hurts to have a little luck.
L.W.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)
Sometimes when I think how bad it is, I remember that a long time ago I used to live in California, how things are there now, and suddenly things are not so bad where I am now after all
What chaps my ass is how they talk in certainty about the racist nation the racist society. Even if you never commit an act of racism, even if you don't realize you are racist, the fact proper English is taught in our society is proof positive racism is prevalent in the country.
I don't know if it is the chemicals the Mexicans spray their pot with, or a natural parasites in Tofu, but something it really rotting out the mind's of these people teaching our kids.
My mother was a school teacher of 40 years, and ya, she is a liberal (nothing like today's liberals), she corrected my grammar all through my life up until I was in my 50's...I can't wait to enlighten her to her racist ways.
I am a white male, I speak English, therefore I must be racist. My thoughts on that are I can accept that, Sothefuqwhat, it doesn't bother me in the least what anyone of that kinda mindset thinks about me. They are completely irrelevant. Seriously I don't care, fact is I would rather that kind of people don't like me, as the feeling is pretty much mutual.
