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ahines2.wordpress.com
I wrote the following letter to the President of Kent State University in September 2009, primarily out of gratitude for the welcoming, caring and nourishing writing community at KSU. Its core is the Wick Center. I hope Kent State places this wonderful resource center-stage in attracting students: Aspiring poets, come here.
Dear President Lefton,
I am a senior political science student and a poet with a book due to be released in about a week. I am writing to remind you of what a terrific asset the university has in its creative writing faculty.
Two professors in particular, Maj Ragain and Alice Cone, are influential not only as teachers, but also as friends. Maj hosts a series of open readings for our community that culminates with Jawbone in early May. Jawbone, a whole weekend of poetry, attracts poets from throughout the country and serves as a forum in which young and established poets share their work.
Cone's continuing kindness and gentle support have guided me through the writing, the editing, and now, the publishing of my book. She is a fabulous poet in her own right, and I couldn't hope for a better guide.
Another important campus resource for the emerging Kent poetry scene is the Wick Poetry Center. The center brings nationally acclaimed poets to read at no cost to students. In addition, the center offers scholarships, one of which I won in 2006. Winning the scholarship gave me more confidence in my poetry.
The Kent State writing program is of immeasurable value. Beyond the superb teaching, the sense of community is important to developing writers, especially in a classroom based around constructive peer review and criticism. Creativity is an important feature for students to cultivate, and faculty who help them do so should be commended.
Sincerely,
Allen Hines
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