1984
The university continues to develop substantial writing component (SWC) courses across disciplines but experiences difficulties implementing new E 346K and SWC requirements. English Department literature and rhetoric faculty split completely over the “lecturer issue” and how to handle departmental labor. The English Department passes a controversial measure limiting the appointments of lecturers, largely without the input of rhetoric faculty. Discussion of lecturers is dominated by procedural issues as English Senate, Executive Committee, and leadership wrangle over processes for passing legislation. All legislation related to lecturers is contested, both in terms of its content and procedures for its passage. Neill Megaw and James Kinneavy add their own lecturer proposals to the controversy. Still operating quietly, the Writing Lab makes its first request for computers. Rhetoric faculty begin having conversations with university administrators about the literature faculty’s undermining of the writing curriculum. In the face of logistical problems, the E 346K graduation requirement is waived temporarily. In fall of 1984 the English Department hires most lecturers at only ¾ time, presumably to bar the lecturers from securing voting rights as full time faculty. E 346K committee proposes outsourcing E 306 requirement and having those students who do not test out of the course take it at another institution. Dean Robert King looks for solution to English Department internal fighting, and sees department as “drifting into turmoil.”
