WE HAVE MOST AT STAKE

I WAS interested to read the comments by Professor Kate Darian- Smith regarding the sudden changes to French, German and Chinese courses ( Talking Point, November 17). Firstly, I am disappointed neither I, nor any student, nor as far as I know teaching staff, were consulted on how we felt courses could be enhanced. Surely, we are the ones with the most experience and most at stake. Perhaps UTAS considers its feedback forms sufficient. Despite completing a survey every year, none of my suggestions has been followed up, nor have I ever had a response. Secondly, if declining enrolments is an issue, why didn’t UTAS approach us, the students who love French, and at least ask us to speculate before dismembering the French department?

Thirdly, the Professor speaks about making language study open to all. When I started German in 2016 students in Launceston joined us via video- conferencing. Our French lecturer drove to Launceston every week to give classes. These initiatives, heading in the direction the Professor now espouses, have just disappeared.

Finally, as to channelling us into Macquarie University courses and the “easier access to international networks and experiences”, why wasn’t UTAS looking at these aspects, in following the example of Macquarie and turning itself into a centre of excellence in language teaching?

Or is a centre for hospitality management now where UTAS sees its priorities? Just the ticket, so we can all now convert to bar managers, tour guides and receptionists as Australia declines into third- rate intellectual status. A university should be a core of our intellectual and cultural life, as a beacon for all inquiring minds. UTAS comes across, sadly, as a shabby, incompetent and ineffective hybrid of bureaucracy and business, serving the goals of just a few and short- changing the interests of the many.

Stephen Block

Battery Point