Please forward to the Daily:

Hello,

I don't really like farces.  I find that they're typically boring, trite and
extremely shallow.  In any case, farces usually seem to try too hard.  By
way of introduction, my name is Blake Hamilton, a recent graduate from the
Professional Writing Program at the University of Oklahoma where I recieved
my Masters in Professional Writing and my B.A. in Journalism.

I must come to the defense of the program from which I graduated, for
without it I would not be where I am today, nor would authors Jim Butcher or
Tony Hillarman for that matter.  I wonder how it is that a little paper such
as yours could so readily and arrogantly refer to a rather lucrative major
as a "farce".  I'm a little confused.  Have you taken a good look at your
paper lately?  It has a history, you realize.  I should know, I wrote for
it, among others belonging to the Professional Writing Program.  Are you not
aware of your own origins, of the people who have contributed to your paper
in the past?

So, yes, I find it offensive and arrogant and I am embarrassed on behalf of
your publication.  But what happened to your intelligent, radical covereage
of, say, a baking contest on Campus Corner?  I'm sure you have someone going
undercover at the Medevil Fair, or has that already come and gone?  Maybe
there was a church pot-luck gone awry.  All of these stories, to me, have
elements of farce in them, and also make up much of the fodder your
publication wads into papers.  In fact, let's be honest.  Your publication
is really just a farce itself, isn't it?  It's boring, trite, and
unquestionably shallow.  And, well, it tries too hard.

Always,

B.H.




>From: Deborah Chester <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: PWA Inside Talk <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [pwa-l] editorial
>Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 12:28:57 -0500
>
>Greetings, all --
>For those of you who aren't on campus today or who have been too busy with
>end-of-semester projects, I want to call your attention to the editorial in
>today's Daily, which slams professional writing and calls the major a
>"farce."
>
>I urge our membership, all PW majors and PW alums to read this editorial
>and send responses to the Daily and the Hub.
>
>On a happier note, Ray Bradbury will receive a special Pulitzer Citation in
>May 2007.  The announcement cites  his "distinguished, prolific and deeply
>influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy."
>The citation is not a Pulitzer Prize, but is instead a recognition of his
>life achievement.
>
>Have a great summer, everyone, and as always ...
>
>Write on!
>
>Deborah Chester
>John Crain Presidential Professor
>Professional Writing
>Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication
>University of Oklahoma
>Norman, OK  73019-2051
>Ph: (405) 325-4192
>[log in to unmask]

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