blop

Would you call it an insult when a doctor's prognosis is for a terminal illness? I'm not trying to insult anyone. I am a student at this school, and my friends go here. I've taken a class with Ngugi, received the acceptance letter from J. Hillis Miller (who, by the way, was living in Maine since the day I arrived here). I wish I could be the cheerleader many seem to want me to be. But it would be quite shocking to any Californian to note the pure ignorance of some responses regarding the funding crisis in California. Yes, I did say throughout *California*, not just at Irvine, although in my seasoned opinion, Irvine is among the worst hit. And it will only get worse, as every budgetary prognosis shows. My cohort all got dissertation fellowships. Those dwindled year by year until now half the students do not even get guaranteed funding. And if you think faculty and students are 100% authentic during "recruitment weekend", then you probably ought not to be studying rhetoric in the first place. It would have been inconceivable in the past to have a Comparative Literature department without a French and Italian Department. Without a film department? What about without a German department? Ours could easily be on the way out, as it no longer offers courses taught in German. The health of Comparative Literature depends upon its links to other supporting departments. Those links have been unhinged here, I am sad to say. As for students, you cannot compare grad and undergrads, and it would be very far from my intentions to insult either of them. But I will say that those students attracted by our program are no longer those interested in European Studies. Of course, post-colonial studies is quite big here, but again, that's hard to believe considering that way no longer have anyone seriously studying francophone literature in Africa or elsewhere (UCLA is a better pick for post-colonial studies, in my opinion). Indeed, a west coast university in the humanities is not like an east coast university. There certainly isn't an elitism on the west coast, but neither is there much knowledge of European history or literature. Fact is, UCI still thinks it can bask in the glory of the legacy of deconstruction. I believe it was once at the forefront 20 years ago. Now it's tired, ailing and on its deathbed. If you think I'm spending my time to tell you this because I have some advantage to gain, that would be curious. I could only benefit from you ENROLLING here. After all, my alma mater's reputation is on the line. But I'm tired of seeing each incoming class disappointed by false promises. Feel free to criticize my posts all you like. I won't try to offer any riposte. Have it your way, and all the best in your admissions results and decisions! Blop

As a current PhD student of Comparative Literature at UC-Irvine, I find it my duty to warn you NOT to enroll in a University of California campus in the HUMANITIES. Our French program was cut, and the other supporting programs in literature are on their way out as well. This is, as you may well know, due to the horrible situation of the California budgetary economy. Even though UCI Comparative Literature will be ever so happy if you enroll in our program, they will not tell you what a bad idea that would be -- the program has gone through a serious, serious decline in quality and a near fallout in funding. Thank you, and I hope you choose wisely. -Blop