Advising Raymond Carver

     Advising  Creatively for Creativity
   “Neither Logic nor Sermons Convince”
 
“The next year, he decided to take his degree
in General Studies rather that English so he
could avoid foreign language requirements.
 
“Although Ray wrote some “superb” papers
for his literature classes, he asked [Richard
Cortez] Day at the end of one course, “How
would you feel if I didn't  turn the paper in?” 
 
“In reply, Day asked his student
how  he'd feel about a C.”
 
“Ray replied, “Fine.”
 
“Because he was working on a story.
 
“So, like anybody with any sense, Ray chose
the story.
 
And took the C.”
 
From Carol Sklenick's  Raymond Carver:
A Writer's Life and reformatted to fit my screed. .
 
The dark if not the wild side of  advising and
retention and liberal art as a life-long practice:
 
Tell them how-it-is on the one hand and then
tell them how-it-is on the other hand
& urge them to pick a hand
& play .it.
 
Damaged & damaging if I do..
Damaged & damaging if I don't.
Sisyphean relief & no longer
postponed joy..
 
“Gentleman's 'C'”
 
If you are get higher or lower than “C's”
you aren't using your time well  used to be
the operating assumption at all-male colleges
prior to the 60's and free love. 
 
Gas cost 18 cents a gallon that summer  and
Pall Malls sold  for 20 cents a pack. On any
date you'd do what  you could to get some
which wasn't that likely either.
 
Candy was dandy, it was said, but liquor quicker
and neither guaranteed  luck in this. sporting life.
 
We've come aways since then long ago..
 
Resume  size matters, grades are  getting better
every  day,  increased  respect about gender issues
and body image, ubiquitous content  &  media
accessible subject-object matter no longer  need
determine  the primary measurable aim and assessable
outcomes in classroom contact-hour educating  where
every  kid with laptop, smart-phone, I-pad etc thanks
to Steve Jobs our Edison and Henry Ford of lower and
higher education is as smart as the smartest kid in class
and they can google my  facts, comments, observations
& opinions as fast as I assert  them plus instantly video
my  professorial ah  um,  cough cough cautious &
judicious academic morning on-track professionalism
and relay to Santa Cruz, some friend  attending a class
of comparable & contrastive critical  thinkers. .
 
“Get a load of  this!” 
“No, YOU Get a load of THIS!” 
 
(Transcontinental citizen ship.)