[Oral History Program interview with Lester W. J. Seifert, 1976]

Interview #100: Seifert, Lester W. J.

UW-Madison TEI edition, February, 2010

Source:

Seifert, Lester W. J. (1915-1996)
[Oral History Program interview with Lester W. J. Seifert, 1976]
number 100
(Teaching assistants strike of 1970)
University of Wisconsin, 1976

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URL to cite for this work: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/UWOHP.OH100

[Title Page]

[abstract]

Interview with Lester W. J. Seifert

00:00:06–00:01:33 Born in Juneau, Wisconsin, 1915....

00:01:33–00:03:35 To Madison for graduate work in 1937...

00:03:35–00:04:41 Studied with Twaddell, and friend of, also.

00:04:41–00:05:25 Roe-Merrill Heffner came fall of 1938.

00:05:25–00:07:04 Also had courses with Alfred Senn, father...

00:07:04–00:08:18 Hohlfeld gave last course in Faust LWS's...

00:08:18–00:09:21 Thekla Nimmow a cohesive agent in the department.

00:09:21–00:11:32 Was not a TA here. Earned money through...

00:11:32–00:12:37 Senn as teacher and as human being.

00:12:37–00:14:42 Second year had a fellowship, $500....

00:14:42–00:15:51 German collection at library here one of...

00:15:51–00:16:27 Finished Ph.D. in 1941....

00:16:27–00:22:18 Enlisted in 1942, in army until October...

00:22:18–00:24:27 Twaddell still here....

00:24:27–00:28:09 Heffner as chairman.

00:28:09–00:31:27 Martin Joos.

00:31:27–00:31:59 More on Joos. His graduate students.

00:31:59–00:32:28 Department wanted John Workman after...

00:32:28–00:36:05 Some further discussion of department...

00:36:05–00:37:12 Women graduate students.

00:37:12–00:41:23 Picnics, German House helped faculty and...

00:41:23–00:43:21 Faculty used to be invited to dormitories...

00:43:21–00:44:00 Development of the adversary feeling...

00:44:00–00:44:54 Vietnam War brought it to a head.

00:44:54–00:48:32 Joos' chairmanship very difficult for...

00:48:32–00:49:44 Department program has been modified...

00:49:44–00:51:41 Now students encouraged into modern...

00:51:41–00:53:10 Joos left here for Toronto....

00:53:10–00:54:07 Seifert chairman for next two years...

00:54:07–00:55:41 Ian Loram became chairman and remained...

00:55:41–00:56:22 Department meetings not regular but about...

00:56:22–00:59:51 Changes in attitudes....

00:59:51–01:02:49 Moving from Bascom affected the department...

00:00:07–00:00:31 TAs had begun organizing before 1967.

00:00:31–00:00:58 As chairman Seifert acted as buffer...

00:00:58–00:01:40 Good relationships previously but began...

00:01:40–00:02:39 Many German TAs struck....

00:02:39–00:03:02 Undergraduates suffered most....

00:03:02–00:04:15 German TA teaching. First and second...

00:04:15–00:06:09 Pay of TAs regulated by University...

00:06:09–00:06:59 Most were on half-time appointments--two courses.

00:06:59–00:07:30 Some disparity in size of appointment...

00:07:30–00:08:17 Department has always welcomed comments...

00:08:17–00:09:11 John Workman in charge of elementary...

00:09:11–00:10:20 Thinks this period of strained relationships...

00:10:20–00:10:47 Doesn't think they are better off now.

00:10:47–00:12:55 Discussion of extent to which TA movement...

00:12:55–00:14:28 LWS's involvement in faculty meetings...

00:14:28–00:16:02 Didn't penalize the one graduate student...

00:16:02–00:18:45 Was opposed to faculty senate, not wise...

00:18:45–00:19:01 That tactic might have disappeared.

00:19:01–00:21:45 Doesn't join university committees....

00:21:45–00:23:50 His work in extension....

00:23:50–00:24:43 Extension offices in Bascom. Then on North Lake.

00:24:43–00:26:42 Atmosphere in Extension was marvelous...

00:26:42–00:28:29 LWS managing German classes in center...

00:28:29–00:29:45 Visited each center once a semester...

00:29:45–00:30:25 Never had to fire anyone.

00:30:25–00:31:32 Period was about 1951 to 1961.

00:31:32–00:34:17 Some general talk about end of extension...

00:34:17–00:36:49 Each campus has mandate from regents to...

00:36:49–00:38:41 Lee Swan director of the center out of...

00:38:41–00:40:59 LWS will talk on developments in regard...

00:40:59–00:44:33 LWS's own work. An authority on Pennsylvania...

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