[CBW_Exec] cbw and social justice policy

[Deborah Mutnick]

Hi all,
 
Rebecca Mlynarczyk and I would like to suggest that we submit a proposal to present a roundtable discussion of up to eight people to continue this important conversation about BW and social justice at CCCC 2009.  Our idea is modeled in part after the session on Mina Shaughnessy's legacy led by Judith Summerfield and 7 CUNY composition faculty members at CCCC 2007 in New York (reproduced in the Fall 2008 issue of JBW). Each panelist would start with a short relevant quotation that could be projected on a large screen and present a brief--no more than 5-minute--perspective on how this quotation relates to the resolution on BW that has been circulating as part of Susan's draft on social justice and the 1974 resolution on support for inadequately prepared students. Assuming there were 8 speakers, we would be finished in 40 minutes, leaving 35 minutes for panelists to respond to questions and comments from the audience. This would be a very important part of the roundtable, which we envision as a genuine dialogue with faculty from many different types of institutions. Our ultimate goal would be to continue to formulate the position statement on basic writing and social justice through discussion at the roundtable session, the SIG meeting, and wherever else it would be appropriate, to be submitted to the CCCC Business Meeting. 
 
We're unsure about the timing of submitting the resolution. Rebecca had at first suggested that we continue working on it after the conference and plan to submit it to NCTE in summer 2009. But I think it would have to be voted on in SF. Anybody know more about the procedures?  In any case, please let us know if you're interested in participating and if you have any suggestions for the proposal as soon as possible since the deadline for submissions is fast approaching.

Best,
Deborah
 
Deborah Mutnick, Director of Writing
English Department
1 University Plaza
Long Island University
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-488-1110
 

________________________________

From: cbw_exec-bounces at tamu-commerce.edu on behalf of Lalicker, William 
Sent: Thu 5/1/2008 2:50 PM
To: sanchezdeborah at yahoo.com; cbw_exec at tamu-commerce.edu; Ashley, Hannah
Subject: [CBW_Exec] cbw and social justice policy



Although I've already added not just my two cents but maybe a nickel to this important discussion, here's another brief comment. Sugie raises important points-and I like the fact that we're still discussing my wonderful friend and mentor Sharon Crowley's incisive critique. My answer, to Sugie and Sharon and to myself when I have to look in the mirror (that might reflect injustice) and go to work in the morning, is that (a) it's better that we are working in the midst of injustice, even within unjust institutions, and working to change them; and (b) the ultimate effect of bringing BW students into these institutions is that the normalizing force of "academic discourse" can be subverted by the voices and the lives of those who bring their experience and reality to academic sites, hybridizing the old academic discourse and changing it, de-norming it. 

 

That doesn't happen always, or easily, or justly, or the same everywhere. But without BW practitioners and BW students, it likely doesn't happen at all. So as long as we are working to change and subvert institutions-actively, riskily, but not inconsequentially-my guess (I say "guess" to assure all that I don't claim to be sure) is that being here is more likely to make justice than being gone.

 

Good, important, complicated discussion. Yes, I want to be in a session on this; I'm not committed to any other session yet. It would be great to have Sharon as chair or respondent, but she is retiring from ASU and we had kind of a end-of-career party with her at CCCC in New Orleans and she may not  want to attend in 2009; I can certainly ask her-and seeing this thread might kindle her interest... 

 

Thanks again, Sugie and Shannon and Susan and Peter and Marcia and Hannah and Deborah.

 

Cheers,

 

Bill