The Independent - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 8, 2004

The Independent

Date: Jul 8, 2004

Can those of us who don't live near campus somehow get the author's permission for this letter to be printed on this site. And if it's happened and I've missed it - point me to the thread that has it.

Date: Jul 8, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Emma
"Can those of us who don't live near campus somehow get the author's permission for this letter to be printed on this site. And if it's happened and I've missed it - point me to the thread that has it."

The letter itself is linked on the Authorized link to John Ower letter in Chronicle thread. The Independent article has not been linked nor summarized as yet.

Date: Jul 8, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anita Stamper
"The letter itself is linked on the Authorized link to John Ower letter in Chronicle thread. The Independent article has not been linked nor summarized as yet."

Emma and Anita,
It appears from the article that The Independent actually interviewed Dr. Ower besides quoting from the Chronicle letter.

I suppose it wouldn't be legal to scan the article and post it here for the out-of-towners. Sorry.

Date: Jul 8, 2004

Could someone please summarize it? Add a few juicy quotes? That is legal, yes?

Date: Jul 8, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
"Could someone please summarize it? Add a few juicy quotes? That is legal, yes?"

"Owers is critical of both the President of the University, Dr. Shelby Thames, and the College Board for its failure to protect the tenured faculty members."

"Moreover, he believes the College Board has allowed wasteful and extravagant practices within the state's universities to go unchecked."

Offers duplicate creative writing programs at USM and University of Mississippi as an example of these practices.

""The Board is not doing its job," he said plainly. "Board members need to be replaced. There needs to be fairly sweeping changes at the Board and at USM.""

Other than these quotes, it is pretty much a rehash of the letter to the Chronicle, supplemented by some background information about him.

Date: Jul 8, 2004

I have greatly admired some of Dr. Ower's writing, but must respectfully disagree about the two writing programs. This is, after all, Mississippi, which for all its flaws is Writer Heaven. Also, geography is an issue -- USM and OleMiss draw from very different populations.

Date: Jul 9, 2004

What is the Independent? Where? Does it have a website? I could not find it in Google.com.

Date: Jul 9, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"I have greatly admired some of Dr. Ower's writing, but must respectfully disagree about the two writing programs. This is, after all, Mississippi, which for all its flaws is Writer Heaven. Also, geography is an issue -- USM and OleMiss draw from very different populations."

Also, they offer two different degress...USM offers a PhD in Creative Writing, while Ole Miss offers an MFA in Creative Writing. These are very different in terms of the kinds of courses taken and the kinds of students they attract.