An Imaginary Exchange with LOC

Background: LOC: professor. Taught poetry course for which I wrote a seminar paper on Marianne Moore. It was a big deal to write a seminar paper, especially because I wanted to use it as my writing sample for PhD applications. At the beginning of the quarter, LOC said it was her policy only to comment on seminar papers that were turned in on time. At UCI, because of the ten-week quarter, incompletes are the norm, but LOC is against them and punishes them by withholding comments (a policy that conveniently cuts down on her workload). Fair enough. I worked really hard, and to some extent sacrificed my other classes, to get the paper done before I went to China. Feedback was very important to me what with the writing-sample thing and all.

So a little while ago, I got this email, sent to the four people who wrote seminar papers for the class:

"I'm very sorry about this but I didn't have time to write end comments on your papers--just marginalia (and submitted grades, of course). I had to get some revisions done for the publisher before I left--in a half-hour or so--for Ireland and France. Since I've already heard that you are going away, I feel less guilty about you because we can talk about it and your earleir paper as a MA paper when I return--I resume work on Mon 25th July; ditto for anyone else who wants to talk it over."

And now I would like to respond:

Dear LOC,

You are probably not reading this, but perhaps you are. Because I may need a recommendation from you and so find myself dependent on your goodwill I feel unable to criticize you to your face, but I want you to know that this email is not okay with me. Not getting an end comment is not okay with me. We had a deal! I took your class seriously, and you should have, too. Do you think no one is listening when you set the rules? Do you think we go to grad school just to twitter around?

If I had known you weren't going to comment anyway, I would have taken an incomplete and actually prepared for my 24 hour exam in my other class. I would have graded my student papers before I got to the airport. I would have found out the pharmacy didn't have my malaria medication sooner than 20 minutes before I was supposed to leave for China.

When you have control over other people's lives, you have the responsibility to be consistent and keep your promises. It matters. We understand that you are fallible, like everyone else, but we notice how you treat us, and don't automatically excuse every failing. At the very least, even if you are rushed next time please make your email of apology coherent. Okay?

Sincerely,

Sarah
Non-Expert on Marianne Moore