[R. Nemo Hill]

I rather enjoyed it as well.

Nemo

[Jennifer Reeser]

Originally Posted by R. S. Gwynn

Please complete this sentence: Living in a community of poets would be like living in . . .

Anne Rice's community of vampires, as described to the Talamasca, a secret society of paranormal observers:

"'Well, for your records and files,' Lestat said, 'we don't have ranks. In fact, I'd say that as a species we are given to rigidly individual personalities and obdurate differences, and peculiar mobility as to matters of friendship and company and meeting of minds. We come together in small covens and then are driven wildly apart again. We know little lasting peace with each other. We have no ranks.'"

Anne Rice
Blackwood Farm

[Charlotte Innes]

Interesting--I had a letter in the mail today from West Chester Dean Lori A. Vermeulen. I assume others got it too?

The key points are: "the Director position is currently vacant;" the University is undertaking "an administrative study" of the Poetry Center's "organizational structure;" and the university is commissioning "an independent review of the Poetry Center's finances."

She adds: "This review will confirm the Center's current financial status and provide valuable information to plan for its long-term success."

During the "transition" to a conference in 2016, they will be "asking for input from the Center's constituent groups including the Advisory Board, WCU faculty and students, community members and donors and friends about how best to position the Center to meet its mission and remain a place that is known for its inclusiveness and the nurturing support that it provides writers."

She welcomes "questions or concerns."

Charlotte

[Nausheen Eusuf]

I received the letter yesterday, and although none of the information is new, it was disheartening regardless.

Nausheen

[Gail White]

Yes, I got the letter today. Looks like a lot of typical academic verbiage, with only 2 positive notes: 1) they expect the center, and the conference, to continue; and 2) we may yet learn something about its financial situation.

[Catherine Chandler]

I got the letter today.

I never did receive a reply from the President (promised within 36 hours on September 16).

The last paragraph states:

"Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the steps that we are taking to ensure the WCU Poetry Center's continued success."

I guess that means she didn't read my September 16 email either.

[Anna M Evans]

Those who have been following this debacle may care to read my latest blog post:

The WCU Fubar - 1 Month On

[Lightning Bug]

I have posted a challenge and a lead-off piece of parody about this situation in Drills and Amusements. Please enter early and often. If I could suggest a guideline, it would be to not stray flagrantly from known fact. I believe my own piece could be summed up by "who did it and why".