Department still thriving despite Harjo's resignation

Editor,

We, the undersigned master of fine arts graduate students, are writing this letter in response to the article about professor Joy Harjo's resignation. We agree that Harjo's decision to resign is regrettable, and there are students who are saddened that they will not have the opportunity to take the single eight-week course she taught per academic year; however, we are confident, evidenced by the advertisement referenced in the article, that the department will hire a writer and professor who will be able to not only offer more classes to graduate and undergraduate students but who also will be able to help the department in its efforts to move forward and meet the needs of its current and future students.

We would also like to clear up a few misconceptions that may have been promoted by this article regarding the health of our program. The creative writing department is moving forward and thriving under the leadership of professor Julie Shigekuni. She has instituted new programs such as the 11th Week Colloquium, graduate student writers' retreat and publishing workshops. She also has increased undergraduate participation in the program and provided graduate students more contact with professional writers. She was instrumental in establishing regular meetings for graduate students teaching creative writing to exchange ideas and lesson plans and facilitated the establishment of a graduate student blog and audio recording of Works-in-Progress readings. Furthermore, she has instituted a tutorial program that pairs creative writing graduate and undergraduate students and is working on funding a community outreach program.

In addition, Shigekuni is moving forward with the search for a new Joseph M. Russo chair, an endowed position that was designed to be filled by a new writer every few years. In summary, our department is alive and well thanks to an abundance of ideas and the hard work of Shigekuni. We look forward to its continued growth and development under her more than capable guidance.

Erika L. Sanchez

and Sam Tetangco

UNM graduate students