Editor, the Gauntlet,
So, the board of governors decided to raise tuition. Am I surprised? No. Am I unhappy? Yes, somewhat. Up until a few hours ago, I was also optimistic. Maybe their master plan for making U of C a better school, will actually produce results. I assumed they included the lowly undergraduate’s needs in to this plan, at least to some extent. I was wrong.
Ask any undergraduate what their biggest complaint is, about whatever classes they may be taking, and nine times out of ten, it will involve their prof. We have all had the kind of prof that treats teaching solely as an inconvenience. The general attitude of indifference many profs have toward undergraduate students at this university is frustrating, maddening and disheartening.
That is why, it is so refreshing to have a prof take a genuine and profound interest in all of her students. Linda Henderson announces on the first day of class that she loves three things: one, her kids; two, Tim Horton’s Donuts; and three, teaching. She has been awarded countless teaching awards for her efforts, so when another student informed me that her contract will not be renewed, I was dumbfounded.
What was their reason for not renewing her contract? Budget cuts. Let’s take a tally. Increased tuition for undergraduates. Budget cuts that remove award winning teachers. Does this sound like a plan that benefits students?
There is also rumor that Henderson was let go because she was spoke out against harvey Weingarten’s plan. She was vocal about the fact that she believed the board did not have the interests of undergrads in mind. Whatever the reason may have been, either budget cuts or politics, it is safe to say, the students are not benefiting from her dismissal.
Does this seem like a university that has undergraduate needs in mind? It sure does not to me.