The University of Toronto’s internationally renowned Centre for Comparative Literature, founded in 1969 by the literary theorist Northrop Frye, is remaining open for the foreseeable future. The center faced closure at the end of this academic year because of departmental restructuring but now appears to have been given a new life thanks in part to the vocal support of academics from around the world.
“A few weeks ago, I knew we could admit students for next year. Since then I’ve known we can admit students for the next five years,” said the center’s director, Neil ten Kortenaar, who said the public outcry to keep the center operating “was crucial, absolutely crucial. It took me aback and I know it took the administration aback. It was amazing, it was gratifying, it was remarkable.”
The university, faced with a huge deficit, announced in July that it was closing the center and consolidating most language departments and some other humanities departments into a new school. That resulted in thousands of people signing petitions and writing letters, phoning, buttonholing university administrators, and sending e-mails to the president in protest.
The outcry helped spur discussions among the affected departments and a strategic-planning committee led by Meric Gertler, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which is charged with trimming the deficit.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Gertler told the departments that the idea of a school of combined languages and literature would be off the table providing staff and faculty members proposed other ideas for cutting the budget, Many details still remain, and some departments still have to develop how they will operate with less resources.
“People recognized we have serious challenges,” he said, referring to the current academic year’s deficit of 14-million Canadian dollars, or about $13.7-million. “Once everyone got over their initial objections, they moved on to alternative and constructive suggestions.” Some of these include new collaborations among departments, finding administrative efficiencies, and an exchange of best practices among the various departments to improve graduate admissions.
“One thing the dean would like, and we would like also, is to be a presence at the undergraduate level. There’s an undergrad course in literary studies that we can be part of. We’ve lacked an undergrad presence, so this is a good way to strengthen us,” said Mr. ten Kortenaar, adding that in the meantime, he is encouraging graduate students to register for next year.
Mr. Gertler said there is enthusiasm now to work together at the university. “I’ve seen more movement in the last few weeks than in the past 15 years.”
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