News
Faculty approves merger of departments
By Ben Fields ’15
March 6, 2015
After a long series of intense, and often dramatic, debates, Hamilton’s faculty voted in favor of merging the department of Comparative Literature with the department of English and Creative Writing, creating the new department of Literature and Creative Writing. While many faculty members were opposed to the idea initially, and made it clear that they did not feel that this should have happened, the final merger had the support of both departments. Edmund A. LaFevre Professor of English and chair of the department, Steve Yao spoke to how the merger was a collaborative effort from both departments, and he strongly urged the faculty to vote in favor of the motion from the Committee on Academic Policy.
Many faculty members spoke about the history of the department and what the School might be losing by eliminating the department of Comparative Literature. Carolyn C. and David M. Ellis ‘38 Distinguished Teaching Professor of Comparative Literature Peter Rabinowitz expressed his frustration at the loss of his department, and small departments in general. He did support the motion, but he did so because, “we need to get over it.”
Visiting Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing Janelle Schwartz ’97 expressed her love for the department of Comparative Literature, saying that she learned an incredible amount as both a student and professor in the department. However, she also expressed her pride in how well the departments had worked together throughout the process of the merger.
Nancy Rabinowitz, professor of comparative literature, expressed her own frustration at what she described as “a historic lack of support” for the department. She explained the history of the department, and its roots in Kirkland College. She said that the change must be embraced, and she looks forward to the future, but she was also clear in saying, “don’t dance on our graves.”
Although many faculty members have raised their issues with the merger over the course of this process, and during the vote on Tuesday, March 3. Through an oral vote, the faculty approved the merger without a single no vote.
In addition to the merging of departments, the faculty also voted in favor of creating a new concentration in Literature. This will replace the existing concentrations in English and Comparative Literature. The departments hope to offer students a “broader range of options in approaching the study of literature than either current concentration.” Though there were concerns over the requirements expected in the new concentrations, the faculty also voted to approve this major, with just a few “no” votes.