A corner in National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi
The classroom was stuffy as usual. We always hear the motor of the air-conditioning but none of us was quite sure that it's spitting out fresh air. So we continue to share this stuffy, humid, and warm air from human bodies. We breathe each other.
But something else was in the air in that room yesterday, when three students gave presentations on their thesis. Different streams of energy cut across the stuffiness. It was my ideal kind of "graduate seminar" for several reasons. First, all three presentations were in the familiar area of cultural studies and qualitative research. What a luxury! I was spoiled silly! Second, the students took charge and showed who the boss was. Yeah, right on. No hesitant looks toward their advisers. They know their topics and they spoke with no fear. Third, the discussion/Q&A was not dominated by authorities who actually don't need to speak all the time. Sometimes we (faculty) just need to learn when to shut up! The young need to have some space to hear their thoughts out loud!
Just one suggestion regarding space, power and communication: the faculty don't need to sit together because any conversation taking place between faculty would just appear as personal and "performance" rather than a public-directed debate.
I love a good fight too, but I need space to carry it out.
