Chapter 96: Blockading and Grading

nerd blog post #101

As I hinted in an earlier post, the situation at school has been horrific. Too much has gone down to post about it all, but I'll give a basic update.

There have been other universities in France who have agreed that they will give their students a 'semestre blanc,' meaning a grade of 50% for the term, across the board. The president of Rennes 2 has decided that this is not a fair way to assess students and, many weeks ago, stated that this will not happen, no matter what. Instead, we would have make-up classes for four weeks and push the exams back by a month.

The minority of students who are still striking and blockading are furious by this decision and are fighting for a semestre blanc. And so, when I arrived back to work on Tuesday, they were blockading the entrances. As a staff member, I can talk my way into the building, but none of my students can. Since the president has ordered that classes still go on, I have to be there at the beginning of every class to teach.

But Hinckster, how can you teach if the blockaders don't let the students in? Good question. I can't. And so, for the rest of the week, I was there at the beginning of each class, and left after ten or fifteen minutes when none of my students were there. Sometimes, though, the blockaders go to eat a baguette or drink a cafe, at which point some students can sneak in. But a lot of students aren't even trying anymore. I had eighteen classes this week, and managed to teach three. One was to two students, and the others were about half full. One took place on the grass outside.

It's left the department and the university in general in a state of depression. People are crusty, students are at a loss, and the president hasn't said much this week as I'm sure he can't figure out quite what to do.

In the middle of the night on Tuesday, some people broke all of the windows of the president's building. There have been fights every day. It really is a chaotic and unhappy place and I find it hard to even try and explain what it's like. On Wednesday, a hundred or so security guards were called in to be near the entrances to the buildings to stop any fights. But they couldn't get rid of the blockaders. On Thursday, they arrived before the blockaders and chained open the doors so that the blockaders were too few to form a British Bulldog-style barricade. That day, they just went home, but by that point in the week, students weren't really showing up anyways.

They had a big meeting Thursday afternoon and (surprise, surprise) voted for a total blockade until the next big meeting on Monday. I don't teach Fridays, but Cynthia told me that security was ordered not to open any classrooms so that the blockaders wouldn't steal furniture to put in the entrances. This meant that any classes that could have taken place would have had to take place outside. In the rain.

This is a catastrophe for many people. For me, it means that classes (that haven't taken place since the week of February 1st!) have three weeks of classes left, two of which are exam weeks. I don't really have the experience or the authority to decide how to proceed, and with everyone's stress and personal concerns, my questions are not being answered. It leaves me in the position of having to decide on my own. Do I make-up more make-up classes? Do we meet at my apartment? Do we go ahead with exams anyways? A thousand points to anyone who can solve this puzzle!

I was pretty discouraged about it earlier in the week. I was supposed to have moved to Paris by now, but instead found a new apartment and planted myself here for another month and a half to work, but haven't even been able to. Now, I'm feeling better. I just have to do what I can to get through it, and remember that at least I'm not a student.

Otherwise, things have been good. Cynthia, Merrill and I had a good time Tuesday, and she threw a great party Thursday night. Cynthia and I have been cozy in our little place and always enjoy each other's company. Merrill has a friend from Paris here this week-end and she's really nice. She goes to an all girls university (I didn't even know those existed. Sounds like torture.) in the States but is in Paris for the semester. We made friends with a law student in the building named Benjamin and he hung out with us twice this week.

Above all, I'm getting really excited for the visitors who are coming this month. On Thursday I head to Paris and Michael Murphy (a wonderful friend from Queen's who has directed me a number of times and whom I CANNOT wait to see) is flying in on Saturday. We were supposed to have a week together, but because of the make up classes, we'll only have until Monday. Still, it will be a whirlwind of fun and I can't wait! The following week-end, Bronco arrives. We have been tight since we were ten years old. As Paabor said to Raffi, "Bronwyn's coming? Hide your valuables." Bronco is a tornado and together, there is nothing but trouble. She'll be here for three weeks and we are doing a bunch of travelling (TBA) that includes a visit to the Doctor!

And though this is further down the road, my invitation to Katie's wedding arrived at 99 Kimbersizzle the other day. Katie was so nice to invite my parents as well, so my date (bidding starts at $400) and I will enjoy it even more! I am getting excited for both the wedding and the trip home. Plus, RtD will be sure to do some sick beat boxing, free styling and break dancing at the reception. What a gangsta.

And so, despite the drama at school (but not the genre I studied), there is a lot to look forward to and be grateful for, both here in Rennes and in the big, wide world.

Happy week-end!

Love always,
Hincks.