NARRATOR：

Listen to a conversation between a student and the director of campus activities.

FEMALE STUDENT：

I’m here cause … well … there’s something I don’t understand.

I sent an announcement for an event, and this morning I checked the events section of the university’s web site and nothing. There’s no mention of it.

MALE DIRECTOR：

And when did you submit this request?

FEMALE STUDENT：

Last Wednesday. I followed the instructions very carefully …

I’m sure it was Wednesday, because I know announcements have to be submitted three business days ahead of the posting date.

MALE DIRECTOR：

And what’s it for?

FEMALE STUDENT：

A reading.

MALE DIRECTOR：

A reading?

FEMALE STUDENT：

Yes, a poetry reading.

MALE DIRECTOR：

Oh, okay, and when is it?

FEMALE STUDENT：

In three days. It’s an author from France we’ve been trying to get for a while, and now that he’s finally agreed to come, no one’ll be there.

MALE DIRECTOR：

Wow … this person’s really coming all the way from France?

FEMALE STUDENT：

Oh no, he’s teaching in New York City this year.

We were able to sell him on the idea by promising there’d be a nice-sized crowd.

I felt confident about that, because I know how enthusiastic our group is.

MALE DIRECTOR：

And your group …Do-Do you have a name?

FEMALE STUDENT：

[thinking]Um, well it’s kind of a loose group, you know, just a bunch of students in the French Department who are interested in French literature … there’s no formal structure or anything … I guess you could call us the “French Literature Reading Group.”

MALE DIRECTOR：

Okay, and it’s a recognized group … by the University, I mean?

FEMALE STUDENT：

No…

MALE DIRECTOR：

[mildly surprised]Okay…

FEMALE STUDENT：

[Concerned that the group will not be seen as legitimate]But the French Department is funding this … on the condition that we do all the legwork.

MALE DIRECTOR：

[checking computer]All right, hold on a second while I check ...

Well it looks like we did receive your announcement last Wednesday.

It looks like the editors must’ve decided not to include your event in this week’s listings.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Not include it? Why?

MALE DIRECTOR：

Well, we don’t post things automatically— we get so many requests that we couldn’t possibly post them all.

So events that are thought to be too specialized, without the potential for a really wide appeal …

FEMALE STUDENT：

[disbelief, mixed with slight annoyance]Wow,I’ve gotta say, that does surprise me. What am I gonna do now?

I mean he really is quite famous, I really do think there would be genuine interest beyond my group … It would be a shame if no one showed up because there wasn’t enough publicity.

Is there anyone else I can talk to?

MALE DIRECTOR：

I don’t think that’ll do you much good, since we’re already working on next week’s schedule.

But maybe you could ask the French Department to post the announcement on its Web site ...

And maybe you could approach some other departments as well. You know, relevant ones.

FEMALE STUDENT：

I knew we should’ve done a poster, but everybody was like “Oh, you can just post it online.”

In any event, thanks for your help. It’s something to consider.