Wednesday, 13 October1999
READING MATTERS Vol V, No 8
Susie Phillips, who returned from her trip last week to Cambridge as
Dr. Susie!
and to Doug Trevor, who has just scored some funding from Renaissance Studies at Iowa to support his research at the Newberry
and to Tom Lutz, whose Crying has just gained what is, if not its most prestigious citation, surely is its most unusual. Ask Tom.
Paul Diehl passes along a wonderful cummings poem:
12Me up at does
out of the floor
quietly Stare
a poisoned mouse
still who alive
is asking What
have i done that
You wouldn't have
and the somewhat less wonderful news that a mouse has been caught in his office, with other mice in evidence on the fourth and fifth floor. Might be something to think about if you bring a lunch or leave food in your office.
Placement Matters
Bluford Adams writes. . .
Dear Faculty Colleagues,Can you spare some time to help prepare our candidates for the job market? The Placement Committee is staging a 2-part Q & A session on Tuesday, NOVEMBER 9TH--FROM 3 TO 4:30 in the Gerber Lounge.
Part I: from 3 to 3:45, the discussion will focus on Interviewing.
Part II: from 3:45 to 4:30, we will talk about Campus Visits.
If you can come to either or both parts of this event, please let me know. I will get you our candidates' questions in advance. Our candidates are especially eager to hear from faculty who have recently served on search committees, but anybody with advice on these vital matters will be much, much appreciated!!
thanks, -bluford
New request for area committee meetings. One of the major changes I hope to see in our English Department website is to include pages for each of our areas. Area pages would make it much easier for us to distinguish and celebrate the focus and strengths of our faculty and curriculum. Each area page could include a very brief overview of the aims and special interests of the area, a list of faculty (and brief bios) who work in the area, and a list of area course offerings. Areas may also want to provide links to other websites of particular interest and value to their area.
What we need to make this possible is a brief description from each area of the way it wishes to construct itself. I'll be asking area chairs to supply such a description--once the area members agree upon one. I doubt that such a statement can be hammered out during the area committee meeting, but urge each area committee to make some provision for the drafting and vetting of its description. Those areas that have already met might consider the nature of their statements through e-mail.
Remember--Meetings are scheduled as follows:
Monday, Oct. 11 - THEORY AND CRITICISM, 4:00PM, Gerber LoungeTuesday, Oct.12 - 20TH CENTURY LITERATURES, 3:45PM, Gerber Lounge
Wednesday, Oct. 13 - MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN, 3:30PM, Gerber Lounge
Monday, Oct.18 - 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY LITERATURES, 3:30PM, Gerber Lounge
Tuesday, Oct. 19 - AMERICAN LITERATURE, 3:45PM, Gerber Lounge
Tuesday, Oct. 19 - NONFICTION WRITING, 3:30PM, 331EPB
On Wednesday, Oct 13 at 8pm in Buchanan Auditorium in Papajohn Business Administration Building, Professor Houston Baker will deliver a lecture titled "Turning South Again: Re-Thinking Modernism/Re-Reading Booker T."
On Thursday, Oct 14 from 4:00-5:30 pm in The Gerber Lounge, Professor Baker will discuss with interested graduate students and faculty the future of African-American Studies
Both presentations are supported by the Constance Irwin Lecture Fund
You see them every day in 308, but here are a couple of things you don't know about our student workers this semester
Katy Stouffer
Katy transferred to Iowa from Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Illinois. She has worked in the English Department since her arrival in August of 1998. She is majoring in Communications with a pre-law intent. She is involved in writing an honors thesis about gender and law, and also participates on the Mock Trial team. Katy will graduate in May of 2000 and begin law school next fall.
Katy is originally from Dixon, Illinois. She sleeps in her spare time, and her hobbies are spending time with friends and family and shopping. Other Katy facts:
1. Favorite thing about the English Department--Amy Faulkner2. Favorite job related to the English Department--babysitting Zoe
3. Favorite movie--Pretty in Pink
4. Siblings--1 brother, 1 sister
5. Sign--Capricorn
6. Favorite food--anything free or home-cooked
7. Pets--dog Roxy, kitty Lucy
8. Most admires--Maya Angelou
Archbishop Tutu
Elizabeth A. Nagy (mom)
Dale Whitacre
Dale came to us from Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. While there, Dale earned his Associate of Arts degree. He began classes at Iowa in the fall of 1998, ready to pursue his Bachelor's. He is majoring in Political Science and History. Dale will also graduate this May, but doesn't know quite yet what he will do after graduation. He may continue his education at the U of I, but he may have to go to work for the government.
Dale grew up in Bloomfield, Iowa. He tries to golf and read when he's not involved in school, but he makes the most time for cow tipping. Here is some more Dale information:
1. Favorite thing about the English Department--the friendly people2. Favorite job in the English Department--not copying
3. Favorite book--Profiles in Courage by JFK
4. Favorite movie--Bull Durham
5. Sign--Aquarius
6. Favorite food--pizza
7. Siblings--2 younger sisters
8. Most admires--Thomas Jefferson
Dianne Jones writes to remind us. . .
I am employed by Liberal Arts Administration (Dean's Office) as a computer consultant. I am assigned to EPB and Becker Communication Studies Building to troubleshoot all computer-related problems, both hardware and software, and to teach you how to use your software. This also includes any network-related problems that you may experience. My goal is to make the personal confuser on your desktop more user friendly for you and to do it in a pleasant, timely, and efficient manner.
If you need to contact me, you can do so by e-mail (dianne-jones@uiowa.edu)or by telephone (5-1693).
and Brooks adds. . .
Dianne is now our first response to any computer problem. If your network connection, e-mail, software, or hardware acts up, check with Dianne before you check with anyone else.
Sam Becker wants three minutes. . .
Humanities Iowa is starting a radio series on KRNA in Cedar Falls--the UNI station with translators throughout the state, so it gets much better coverage than WSUI or KSUI. The purpose of the series is to showcase humanists and the humanities--to help the general public understand how interesting and important the work of humanists is.
The sticker is that these will be three minute bits--snippets that tantalize. If you have a three-minute snippet in something you have written, or can rewrite something to make it fit the time frame, or want to write something for that time frame (approx 500 words--roughly one and a half pages of typed, double-spaced text), please send it to me or to Chris Rossi, Humanities Iowa, OH NL (that stands for Oakdale Hall, Northlawn).
Remember, it must be understandable and interesting to the general public and show off the humanities in a good light.
If you have questions about this, let me know.
Oct 13-14 Houston Baker visit and lecture Oct 13 8pm in Buchanan Auditorium. The title of his presentation is: "Turning South Again: Re-Thinking Modernism/Re-Reading Booker T."
Oct 15 Denis Johnson, an alumnus and former faculty member of the Writers' Workshop will read from his work at 8:00 pm in Lecture Room I of Van Allen Hall.
Oct 15 The Center for the Book will sponsor a lecture by Robert Darnton on Friday night, October 15, at 8PM in Tippie Aud, with a reception to follow in the Anderson Galeria in PBAB. His Saturday AM discussion may have a different topic, perhaps concerning e-texts, and will be open to all those interested.
Nov 12-13 Barry Moser will be on campus as an Ida Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor, his visit to coincide the publication of the Pennyroyal Caxton Bible that he has designed and illustrated. Barry Moser is considered the foremost wood engraver in the United States and one of our finest book designers and illustrators. When the Pennyroyal Caxton Press Bible, which he has been working on for twelve years, reaches completion, it will be the first Bible illustrated by a siingle author since Gustave Dore's famous Bible published as the Civil War was coming to a close. A recent interview with Barry Moser can be read at http://www.staff.interport.net/~hdu/moser.htm a site describing connections between painting and writing and Moser's work can be seen at http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~estes/illumine.html and information about the Pennyroyal Caxton Bible can be found at http://www.pennyroyal-caxton.com/
(From 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday, November 12, Mr. Moser is available for scheduling two or three sessions with students, either within regularly scheduled courses or as separate sessions. On Saturday afternoon, November 13, Mr. Moser will give a hands on demonstration of new engraving techniques for faculty and students. Please contact me (Brooks) if you would like to try to arrange time with Mr. Moser with one of your classes or with your students on November 12.)
Nov 12 Barry Moser Ida Beam Public Lecture: "Tanakh and Testament: A Reprobate Tinkers with Holy Writ" 8:00pm Shambaugh Auditorium, Main Library
Oct 15 Columbia University Society of Fellows in the Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowships 2000-2001 applications due
Oct 15 End of trial period for UI Library subscription to Women Writers Online Project
Oct 29 Council on Teaching Instructional Improvement Award proposals due by 4:00 pm in 111 Jessup
Dec 1 Obermann Center Summer 2000 Interdisciplinary Research Grants proposals due