Andrew Shields on The Quarry and The Lot / An Upcoming Reading in San Bernardino

 

On his blog, Andrew Shields (pictured above) explores some interesting questions regarding one aspect of my novel The Quarry and The Lot, that portion of the book which concerns the emotional and intellectual struggle of the character Luke Owen regarding whether to keep writing poetry or not, and why. As Andrew pointed out in a note to me, the issue is not the central one of the novel, or even in his own thinking, but he does feel it’s worth taking up.

Minor spoiler alert: although Andrew’s thoughts hardly exhaust the question of what happens in the book, he does take up at least one portion of the novel’s conclusion, so if you’d rather not know about that yet, here’s your chance to save his excellent insights for another time.

Meanwhile, I’ll be giving a reading this Thursday night, May 12, at Cal State San Bernardino. The reading will be at 6 p.m. on the Cal State San Bernardino campus in Room 4005 of Pfau Library (pictured above). If you happen to be anywhere nearby, feel free to come on out.

Maps and Directions for Cal State San Bernardino can be found here.

Tenure-Track Job Searches in Literature and Writing at CSU San Marcos

TENURE-TRACK POSITIONS

Cal State University San Marcos (San Diego County)

Literature and Writing Studies Department

 

Assistant Professor - Early U. S. Literature

Must be able to teach Colonial period through American Renaissance. Subspecialty in Native American texts desirable. Must be willing to teach in general education program. Begins Fall 2011. CSUSM (in San Diego County) is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer strongly committed to equity and diversity and seeks a broad spectrum of candidates in terms of race, sexual orientation and identity, gender, age, and disability or veteran status.  The university is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented groups. CSUSM has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and was recently named one of the top 32 Colleges most friendly to junior faculty by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education. Letter of application, vita with references, narrative of teaching philosophy and successes, writing sample by 2-15-11 for best consideration; applications accepted until position is filled. Position pending budgetary approval. Visit http://www.csusm.edu/facultyopportunities for submission procedures. Contact for questions:  Dr. Mark Wallace, markwall@csusm.edu.

Advanced Assistant/Associate Professor –

Writing Program/Rhetoric & Composition

Direct CSUSM’s first-year writing program and teach undergraduate and M.A. courses in Rhetoric and Composition and Writing Theory/Pedagogy, beginning fall 2011. Ph.D. or dissertation in Rhet/Comp or Writing strongly preferred; should have significant, long-standing experience as writing program administrator and publications in field. Will participate actively in campus governance, advocate for the writing program at the college and university levels, and teach in general education program. The Department has a strong Cultural Studies emphasis and interest in digital rhetoric. CSUSM (in San Diego County) is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer strongly committed to equity and diversity and seeks a broad spectrum of candidates in terms of race, sexual orientation and identity, gender, age, and disability or veteran status. The university is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented groups. CSUSM has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and was recently named one of the top 32 Colleges most friendly to junior faculty by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education. Letter of application, vita with references, narrative of writing program philosophy and successes, writing sample by 2-15-11 for best consideration; applications accepted until position is filled. Position pending budgetary approval. Visit http://www.csusm.edu/facultyopportunities for submission procedures. Contact for questions: Dr. Martha Stoddard Holmes, mstoddar@csusm.edu.

California Faculty Association Statement On The January Proposal For A 2011/12 State Budget

 

The California State University is still "The Solution."

A cut to the California State University of $500 million would have a devastating impact on our ability to deliver the quality higher education so crucial to our state's economic recovery and global competitiveness.

If the proposed cuts are adopted in California's 2011/12 budget, thousands more qualified high school and community college graduates could be turned away from our state university. This tragedy would be compounded by rejecting a rapidly rising number of applicants from among California’s under- and unemployed who seek more education for jobs in new fields.

The effects of past cuts are stark enough: desperate students cramming into jammed classrooms hoping to add what they need to graduate; 3,000 fewer faculty members to teach them, a decrease over just two years.

Our students—and our potential students—already have had fewer educational opportunities while facing exorbitant increases in costs. Since 2002 alone, student fees in the CSU have risen 242%, far faster than inflation.

We in the California Faculty Association are not blind to the fact that the state of California is in dire straits. We will support a serious, honest, fair effort to put the state’s fiscal house in order. We welcome attention not only to cuts but also to revenues with the understanding that as a state we must pay for the institutions and programs that make California great.

We must warn, as we have in past years, that underfunding our public higher education system, along with a failure to direct enough of the dollars we do get to our university’s classrooms, puts not only the university at risk, but also California’s economic underpinnings.

To Governor Brown we say: the California State University is a fundamental part of the solution to advance California. We believe you know that; you have publicly supported the notion that quality education from pre-school to PhD is fundamental to California’s recovery.

We need you to propose legislation and measures at the ballot box based on principles of shared sacrifice, the paramount importance of jobs, and honest and just reform of the system:

SHARED SACRIFICE: Any plan to fix our state must be based on genuine shared sacrifice involving all Californians, including those at the top. We are all in this mess together.

It is time to address reform of California’s tax structure, including closing corporate tax loopholes that have resulted in everyday Californians and small businesses paying more on their property and purchases while the largest corporate entities and highest paid individuals pay less.

JOBS ARE PARAMOUNT: We have to get California back to work. The California State University is a key to accomplishing that. CFA says, “The CSU is the Solution!” California has long competed with the world for quality jobs and our strong public higher education system has enabled our success.

For that reason, in bad times the CSU is a good, necessary investment—it is actually counter-productive to cut it. The CSU builds strong citizens with good work skills who earn and contribute back to the state at higher rates.

This shows in the actual numbers. Unemployment among college graduates is about 5%. Among high school graduates it is about 10%. Among those who do not finish high school it is 15% and even worse in some areas.

Furthermore, investment in public higher education activates economic life. Every dollar invested by the state in the CSU generates about $5 for California's economy and much more in tax dollars over the life of the graduate.

HONEST REFORM OF THE SYSTEM: Until proper revenues can be achieved, every precious dollar must be used with laser focus on its intended mission. In the case of the CSU, this is spending on the classrooms and services needed to educate our students.

Any funding plan must adopt this focus and do it with openness, transparency, and a commitment to public service on the part of all of us, starting at the top.

No cuts should be applied to classes or services to students without thorough, transparent evaluation of the use of managerial and special-project dollars in the university and in university-related auxiliary organizations. We need managers to understand their ethical role in leading a vital public institution and to act accordingly to advance its mission.

March 4 Teach In/ Rally at CSU San Marcos

CSUSM March 4th Teach-in/Rally

Classes too large, tuition hikes, jobs at risk, poor course selections, reduced services -- what's next?

Teach-in:

Come to a teach-in and discussion addressing these and many other questions about California's plan for higher education, and the difficulties facing the CSU during this budget crisis and beyond. Four distinguished faculty members will start the discussion, and then will answer your questions.

When: March 4, 2010, 10:30-11:45

Where: ACD 102, streaming live in UH 100 and in many classes, simulcast and discussion participation from www2.csusm.edu/cfa/.

Rally:

After the teach-in, join us for a rally in Library Plaza (noon - 1 PM) in support of publicly-funded higher education!

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Although more attention has gone to the University of California system, the California State University system is under similar pressures and in many ways worse ones, with overly large classes, overworked and underpaid faculty and staff, and a lack of basic resources. As just one example, in recent faculty meetings in my department we have been discussing removing the phones from our offices because we simply may not be able to afford them. I hope you will join us in a day of meetings and solidarity with UC and CSU colleagues and students to protest worsening conditions for public education in California.

The CSU system serves many financially-disadvantaged students or students who for many reasons need to go to college in the area where they live. But with repeated tuition and fee hikes, as well as artificial caps that limit the students who can attend to a smaller number than the students whose record should allow them to attend, the CSU system is getting increasingly blocked from meeting the needs of students in California. Instead of grades being a guidepost to who should enter college, simply having enough money has now often become the more crucial criteria in California of who can attend college, and that’s a situation which needs to change.

A state that cannot afford to educate its children is a state whose financial (not to mention intellectual) future is in serious danger.

Whether you live in California or not, I hope you will support the faculty, students, and staff at various University of California and California State University campuses in their goal of maintaining affordable, accessible, and quality education for the citizens of California.