[Ned Balbo]

Thanks, Paddy. You may well be right, and I appreciate your comment.

I have great respect for Loyola faculty, the institution, and the values it represents.

I had to make the choice to speak out or remain silent. I chose to speak out in order to shed light on a policy that needs to be changed and which, unfortunately, has affected many people.

There are lots of others speaking out these days, many in less measured language. I chose the links in my last post because they struck me as examples of restraint: attempts to get at a complicated problem & point out ways of moving forward.

[Rick Mullin]

I'm coming very late to this after a week off line--

Ned...I'm sorry, man. The ways of academia are strange to me, yet all too familiar.

Love to you and Jane.

Rick

[Ned Balbo]

I usually stay in touch with Eratosphere friends via Facebook, but I thought I'd check in here with an update since so many folks were kind enough to share words of support a few months back.

The day after Christmas, I was offered a job as a visiting faculty member in the MFA in Creative Writing and Environment Program at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. I started the position in January &, fortunately, since Jane is on sabbatical, we were able to head out together & share the experience.

I'm currently teaching 2 poetry workshops -- one for undergrads & one at the graduate level -- and getting to know the program & the area. It's not an opportunity I'd have expected in the days I wrote that piece for Catholic Higher Education Advocate.

A big "thank-you" to everyone who contacted me here or privately to offer encouragement. Your messages meant a lot!

For info on the program: http://www.engl.iastate.edu/creative...d-environment/

[Susan McLean]

Congratulations, Ned, on finding a visiting position at Iowa State. I hope it is a stepping stone to a more permanent position somewhere. I have been to Ames and remember it as a great small town, so I hope you and Jane enjoy your time there.

Susan

[Ned Balbo]

Thanks, Susan! We think it's lovely, though Jane's had to head back to B'more for a few weeks to take care of obligations there. She'll be back in early March for the rest of the semester.

Say...I think we're only 5 or 6 hours from each other by now. Does that make us neighbors?

[John Whitworth]

Good news, Ned. One for the good guys, which is you.