Ugh, Academia

For those of you who would perhaps know...

How does one go about getting recommendations from professors that are no longer with the university? Do they even care about former students that aren't from their current institution? Do I just send them an e-mail at their new university and hope that they remember me (this is very unlikely in at least one case, because even though the prof loved my papers, we didn't really talk much and it was a class of over 100 students).

I am really regretting my lack of immersion in the English department. (Also, it's been what, at least three years since I started complaining about this and they STILL haven't updated their website.)

I wonder if Bevington or Veeder would remember me? But I'm afraid of Bevington... mostly because my midterm paper for his class was so horrible I never wanted him to see me again. And Veeder... I was pretty lackluster in his class, and his classes were gigantic, so no. Argh, argh, argh. Why didn't I take care of this crap while I was still in college?!

Also, wow, Creative Writing finally has its own department-proper. And they've gotten rid of that awful beginning fiction lottery... apparently, as of spring semester of my last year. Go UofC. I was going to say I missed you, but now I'm also remembering how you were constantly out to get me.

Also your websites aren't helping me get recommendations. Goshdarn you.