OFFICIAL23 What did the student's group have to promise the author in order to get him to visit the university?

[00:00.00]NARRATOR: Listen to a conversation between a student and the director of campus activities. [00:06.99]FEMALE STUDENT: I'm here cause...well...there's something I don't understand. [00:11.89]I sent an announcement for an event, [00:14.24]and this morning I checked the events section of the university's web site [00:18.22] and nothing. There's no mention of it.[00:20.72]MALE DIRECTOR: And when did you submit this request?[00:23.09]FEMALE STUDENT: Last Wednesday. [00:24.06] I followed the instructions very carefully? [00:26.68]I'm sure it was Wednesday, because I know announcements have to be submitted three business days ahead of the posting date.[00:32.94]MALE DIRECTOR: And what's it for?
[00:34.17]FEMALE STUDENT: A reading. [00:34.86]MALE DIRECTOR: A reading?
[00:35.57]FEMALE STUDENT: Yes. A poetry reading. [00:37.30]MALE DIRECTOR: Oh, OK. When is it?
[00:39.13]FEMALE STUDENT: In three days. [00:40.32]It is an author from France we have been trying to get for a while. [00:43.52]And now that he has finally agreed to come, no one will be there.[00:46.93]MALE DIRECTOR: Wow. This person is really coming all the way from France?
[00:50.22]FEMALE STUDENT: Oh, no. He is teaching in New York City this year. [00:52.78]We were able to sell him on the idea by promising there will be a nice size crowd. [00:57.28]I felt confident about that because I know how enthusiastic our group is.[01:01.86]MALE DIRECTOR:And your group...[01:03.02]Do-Do you have a name?[01:04.32]FEMALE STUDENT: 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? [01:10.90]there's no formal structure or anything? [01:13.26] I guess you could call us the "French Literature Reading Group."[01:16.87]MALE DIRECTOR: Okay, and it's a recognized group...[01:20.22] by the University, I mean?[01:21.68]FEMALE STUDENT: No?[01:22.49]MALE DIRECTOR: Okay?[01:24.25]FEMALE STUDENT: But the French Department is funding this ?on the condition that we do all the legwork.[01:29.54]MALE DIRECTOR: All right, [01:30.42]hold on a second while I check ... [01:32.10]Well it looks like we did receive your announcement last Wednesday. [01:36.96] It looks like the editors must've decided not to include your event in this week's listings.
[01:42.04]FEMALE STUDENT: Not included? Why?
[01:44.35]MALE DIRECTOR: Well, we don't post things automatically. [01:47.01]We get so many requests that we couldn't possibly post them all. [01:50.90]So events that are thought to be too specialized, without the potential for really wide appeal...
[01:57.16]FEMALE STUDENT: Wow, I've gotta say, that does surprise me. [02:00.73]What am I gonna do now? [02:02.73]I mean he really is quite famous, [02:05.22]I really do think there would be genuine interest beyond my group ?[02:08.58]It would be a shame if no one showed up because there wasn't enough publicity. [02:13.11]Is there anyone else I can talk to?
[02:16.32]MALE DIRECTOR: I don't think that'll do you much good, since we're already working on next week's schedule. [02:21.21]But maybe you could ask the French Department to post the announcement on its Web site ... [02:26.04]And maybe you could approach some other departments as well. You know, relevant ones.
[02:30.35]FEMALE STUDENT:I knew we should've done a poster, [02:32.24]but everybody was like "Oh, you can just post it online.[02:35.46]"In any event, thanks for your help. [02:38.63]It's something to consider.