English department considering track reforms

‘ ‘ ‘ Changes could possibly redefine future journalism and creative nonfiction courses in the… ‘ ‘ ‘ Changes could possibly redefine future journalism and creative nonfiction courses in the English department. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The two English writing tracks, both options in the English writing major, might merge into one as early as next fall. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Last Monday, the English department held a focus group to review possible improvements to the nonfiction and journalism curricula. The department announced the meeting in an e-mail to all English majors and asked to hear students’ ideas, concerns and questions. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Not all faculty members in the department were notified. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Peter Leo, an adjunct professor who teaches the Pitt News class for the journalism track, said he learned about the discussion from his students. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I don’t think that it’s a bad idea to merge the two,’ said Leo. ‘I would just like to know what the English department was actually discussing. I’m definitely not against it, though. I just feel like they missed out on an opportunity by not asking some of the adjuncts or part-time professors to the join the conversation.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Sam MacDonald, another adjunct professor who has taught journalism and creative nonfiction classes, agreed, saying he did not know about the possible merger, but thought that it makes sense. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I can’t really comment because I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve taught classes for both of these majors, and I definitely see the similarities there,’ said MacDonald. ‘I mean, it’s not like trying to put poetry and chemistry together. Both tracks are very similar in a lot of ways.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Ruhina Mehra, a freshman considering a major in English writing, said she felt the change wouldn’t really affect students unless it was drastic. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I don’t think merging the two together is necessary or really does anything for any of the students,’ she said. ‘Maybe they’ll get some new classes out of it. But as long as they still offer both types of classes, I think everything should be fine. I don’t think it’s a big deal.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Student Sanjeev Sharma agreed. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘As long as they’re not doing away with one or the other, I don’t think there should be a problem,’ he said. ‘If people can still take journalism and creative non-fiction classes and still be able to choose, I don’t see a problem with changing it up a little bit.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Pitt News editor in chief, Katelyn Polantz, said the only change in the English curriculum The Pitt News would support would be an improvement of the journalism track. She said that without it, the student paper would suffer. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Polantz said that many student writers come to The Pitt News because they are encouraged to in their journalism classes. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I would say that more than half of our writers are in the English writing program,’ she said. ‘Some are nonfiction and fiction writers, but many are in journalism and find out about us through the journalism track.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The senior associate dean in the School Arts and Sciences, James Knapp, who also teaches literature in the English department, declined to comment until a final proposal is submitted. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The English department also declined to comment further on the situation. Chairman David Bartholomae said it would be inappropriate for him or the department to speak on the matter until the faculty discussed it in more detail and a final decision is reached. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ MacDonald said he trusts the department to make the right decisions about changes in the course curriculum. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘There are a lot of smart people making decisions up there,’ he said. ‘I believe they’re looking out for what will be best for the students. If it’s done right and structured correctly, this can definitely be beneficial, interesting and productive.’