writing across the curriculum handbook angst

A couple years ago, I coordinated an effort to create an interdisciplinary writing handbook on my campus. The book is now being revised, and I am working on the revision along with a colleague from another department. A month ago we sent out a survey to all faculty about their experiences with the first edition. The survey could be completed in ten minutes, and we asked people to return their competed surveys within two weeks. Many people returned their surveys and others contacted us with their comments. As you might guess, many people opted not to complete the survey, and as you might then guess, one of those people has begun a “whispering campaign” about how my colleague and I are not allowing anyone outside our “inner circle” to have input into the revision. I find that kind of behavior so unprofessional and immature. I did go talk to this person and tell her that we were interested in her input, and she looked offended and said, “I don’t have time to fill out a survey!!” and then stomped away.

Why do I have a strange sense of déjà vu that takes me back to the playground in middle school?

Another strange thing that happened with the survey is that a colleague mentioned to me a week after the surveys were due that she had seen another colleague working on his survey last week. I wondered why we had never received his survey, so I asked him about it. He said, “Oh, I couldn’t decide if I should turn it in or not. I added some notes and it’s rather long.” I told him we would still take it, and he did eventually turn it in, along with 7 pages of single spaced notes. The survey and notes were 100% negative criticisms, and while many of the criticisms were legitimate, the tone of the entire document was extremely bitter and mean-spirited. The notes included many sweeping comments, such as, “No one could successfully use this handbook to do xxxx.” Interestingly, many other surveys specifically mentioned how well the book worked to do xxxx. What I don’t understand is why a person would be so angry and bitter about the handbook that he would spend the time to write what’s basically a 7 page tirade. What is it about the handbook that could make a person so angry?

I’m stumped.

tags: wac  stupidity  academia  

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