Dear Supporters, 

Yesterday afternoon, the WVU Office of the Provost announced its recommendations regarding the WVU English Department and the MFA in Creative Writing. 

The English Department was successful in overturning the previous recommendation to discontinue the MFA program. 

You can read the full statement from the university here: https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/

Of course, this is not a perfect victory. The English Department is still facing increased workloads and reduced faculty. 

But this is still a victory, and one that each one of you played a part in. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you. 

And please keep using your voice to fight for the humanities at WVU and beyond. 

Many other equally deserving programs are still facing elimination, and many people are working tirelessly to save those. 

An alumni rally is planned for Saturday, Sept 9th, at 1 p.m. outside the Mountainlair for those who want to continue to raise their voices to stop the cuts. 

You can also contact the WVU Board of Governors at Valerie.lopez@mail.WVU.edu

In these difficult times, it is sometimes easy to feel despair. Don't. Your voice has made a difference that I, the MFA program, and future generations of Appalachian writers will be grateful for. 

With gratitude, 

Lori D'Angelo, WVU MFA 2009