[Bill Carpenter]

Dean Vermeulen responded to my email, including her notice to the English Department, see below. The good news is that the university intends to continue holding the poetry conference in future years. The administration decided to cancel it in 2015 because of the change of leadership. Dean Vermeulen's response was unenlightening as to Prof. Bridgford's situation. She is unable to discuss that because personnel matters are confidential. As a participant in the conference for seven years, the dean must be aware of Prof. Bridgford's stellar management of it.

Dean's notice to English Department at WCU:

TO: English Department Faculty

FROM: Dr. Lori Vermeulen
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

RE: Poetry Center Leadership

DATE: September 15, 2014

I am writing to share information with you about a change at the WCU Poetry Center. Beginning today, Dr. Kim Bridgford will no longer serve as the Center’s Director.

As we make this transition, please be assured that the University is committed to the long-term success of the Poetry Center and its programs. Therefore, I have launched an administrative review to determine how best to proceed. Input will be sought from members of both the campus and poetry communities. As members of the Department of English, your ideas are very important and I encourage you to share them with me.

Given the timing of this change and the process required to identify the Center’s next director and structure, it is important to consider the status of our signature event; the poetry conference. Thus, I am following the advice of conference co-founder Dana Gioia and placing the event in hiatus for one year while we develop the organization and leadership necessary to assure a thriving conference in June 2016.

As is often the case, reorganization is challenging. However, challenges present opportunities and I am confident that with your help we will fulfill the Poetry Center’s unique mission with new strength and vitality.

Thank you for your commitment to poetry and the Center, and your understanding and support during this transition. If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, please contact me. I look forward to working with you as we move ahead.

[Terese Coe]

I am so sorry to hear this, and can only imagine how painful it is for Kim and others concerned. I hope balance and moderation return to the situation and the pain is minimized. Perhaps it's not too late to right the wrongs.

I've written to both President Weisenstein and Dean Vermeulen. There is a public email addy for the former posted at the University website. It's President@wcupa.edu

[Catherine Chandler]

Yes, Terese, I got an email reply from the President's office that I should expect a reply within 36 hours.

Thank you for your e-mail to the President of West Chester University. We value your interest and your comments. You can expect a reply to your note within 36 hours Monday through Friday. Any e-mails received after noon on Fridays will be replied by the following Tuesday.

I've also alerted the West Chester local newspaper to express my dismay.

The letter from the Dean that Bill has posted is, understandably, vague as to the real issues surrounding her decision. But her phrasing -- "while we develop the organization and leadership necessary to assure a thriving conference" and "new strength and vitality", as well as the subject line of the memo is sickening and a real slap in the face to Kim and her team.

I also note that it was Dana Gioia's suggestion to put a hold on the conference for 2015. I thought that, if anyone, he'd step up to defend Kim. Guess I'm naive.

.

Editing back to say the newspaper already knew of the dismissal . . .

[John (J.D.) Smith]

Per Mary Meriam's post, I wonder if anyone has contacts at the Chronicle of Higher Education, the AWP Chronicle or Poets & Writers.

[Tim Murphy]

I have raised about twenty grand for the poetry center, so I shall write to the powers that be in support of Kim.

[Charlotte Innes]

Thanks, Bill, for posting your reply. I also got something similar from Dean Vermeulen this morning in response to my e-mail from yesterday.

It's interesting that she puts Dana Gioia out there as the fall guy. Perhaps that's a strategy--just a thought, given that Dana has a lot of practice in negotiating controversial issues. And I say that with respect.

But I suspect it's all much more complicated than she suggests. Certainly it is, based on what I've read here and on Allison Joseph's thread on Facebook.

And I agree with Cathy about the "slap in the face" aspect of the letter.

The Dean's letter to me was slightly different in that she emphasized her commitment to "inclusiveness." She added: "it is important to me that this welcoming environment is sustained, especially for women and people of color." Then she said: "We value your input as we move forward. I hope that you will stay connected as we make this transition."

She also said that "the decision" was "not a sudden one." So I suggested that she send a letter of explanation to all West Chester attendees since it seems sudden to them, and that people are hurt by it.

Charlotte

[W.F. Lantry]

Charlotte,

Without going into any details, as that would be both useless and counterproductive, I think your characterization of the Dean's letter, and especially your use of the term 'fall guy,' is a misreading. I only mention this because I think it would be a disservice to all involved to let that misreading go unchallenged. I'd be loath to see it serve as the basis for further discussion.

Yours, in good faith,

Bill

[Rhina P. Espaillat]

I think it's fruitless and premature, while we're still not in possession of all the facts, to jump to any conclusions at all. Why not wait until there's more to go on, from the university, first of all, before assuming that there are wrongs that have been committed, retributions engaged in, or sides to be taken? Haste and fury may make a situation worse that could be handled differently with less heat and more patience--and above all more information.

[R. Nemo Hill]

My sentiments exactly, Rhina.

Nemo

[Michael Juster]

Amen.

Thank you.