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Hiya, folks . . . me again. I've got a sticky situation, which will be familiar to people who were at Inkshed 12, which is why I'm writing here for help. Remember my descriptions of the vitriolic homophobe who basically went after (rhetorically, not physically) one of the gay students in my class last spring? Well, the homophobe has just written to me, asking for -- get this -- a _letter of recommendation_ for [a] law school . . . and (if that doesn't push your panic button) for [b] a Canadian Studies internship program in Ottawa this summer. How do I tactfully tell him I won't do this? How much explanation do I have to give? (His homophobia really isn't the only reason I don't want to write this letter; I think he was a divisive presence in class, he didn't contribute much to his group, and I think he may have plagiarized his final paper . . . ) I have no clue why he's asking _me_ for a letter, except that maybe his other professors didn't get to know him very well. And I'm worried about what I say when I refuse to write the letter, because I'm worried about opening yet another can of worms with this guy. Any rhetorical savvy you could pass my way would be _extremely_ appreciated. And thanks. Marcy Marcy Bauman Writing Program University of Michigan-Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Rd. Dearborn, MI 48128 email: [log in to unmask]