Dear Editor,
I am writing to lend my support to Dr. Grace Edwards and the Appalachian Studies program at Radford University.
I am a nationally published author, and two of my novels, Storming Heaven (WW Norton, 1987) and The Unquiet Earth (WW Norton, 1992) are set in the Appalachian region. I have long appreciated the profound impact programs like the one at Radford have had on our knowledge about the Appalachian region, the way it is perceived by those outside the region, and the self-perception of our own residents (especially our young people).
In fields as diverse as literature, sociology, history, political science, and public health, this region would be different, and greatly impoverished in every way, without Appalachian Studies. And I can say after thirty years of contact with the field, that Radford’s is one of the premier programs in the country. (In fact, I would rate Radford, along with the University of Kentucky and Virginia Tech, at the top of the heap.) Further I might point out that for many of us not directly connected to the university, it is the Appalachian Studies program that has put Radford on the map.
Denise Giardina
Charleston, West Virginia
14 responses so far ↓
1 Grace Toney Edwards // Mar 24, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I am deeply grateful for the support Denise Giardina is offering to the Appalachian Studies Program at Radford. Denise is one of the most respected authors and spokespersons in and for Appalachia. Her assessment of the impact of Radford’s Appalachian Studies Program throughout the region means much to me and, I think I can safely say, to all of the friends and supporters of not only Appalachian Studies at RU, but of Appalachia itself. As Denise Giardina’s letter indicates, if a program has had and is having an impact, the stakeholders are the ones who should be given a voice to express that.
Sincerely,
Grace Toney Edwards
2 TehShay // Mar 24, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Three Cheers!
3 Teresa Jewell // Mar 24, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I came to Radford University because of a hunger for education. The type of education that I could be proud of, and use to enhance my life. I was born and raised in the Appalachian coal fields and did not know how important my roots were and how to look forward to the future of the Appalachians. Now, my heart is broken and my faith in the future of Radford University has been lost. How could Radford University forget the reason why it was conceived? How could the people from this region be forgotten? It seems that the almighty dollor and social statis has taken the place of pride and responsibility to an idea. It seems that since the four years that the president of Radford University has been here the climate of happiness has changed to grey and dismal. She has taken a fruitful college and changed it to a barren wasteland. What’s to happen to those of us who wanted to finish with our chosen field? What will it mean to us later? I suppose the next thing we read will be RU’s Obituary.
4 Shai Cullop // Mar 24, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Here, here!
5 Kathy Kelly // Mar 24, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I write in support of the Appalchian Studies Program at RU. As a teacher at Shawsville High and Middle School from 1975-1994 I know how important it was for me to gain an understanding of the students I had in my classroom. Because of Grace Edwards and the Appalchian Studies program at RU I learned the importance of my students getting in touch with their roots–and began a project at SH&MS that allowed my students to record the area’s history as well as their own. Their projects are still in the library at Eastern Montgomery High and are consulted by other citizens of the community as a starting point for their research into the history of the area. We all have Grace Edwards and the Appalchian Studies Program at RU to thank for this valuabe contribution to the Shawsville/Elliston area.
Shame on the Academic Review Board for their recent vote to discontinue the program at RU.
6 mdr // Mar 24, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Without the thriving Appalachian Studies Program at RU, I would never have read Ms. Giardina’s work. Thanks to my graduate work at Radford, I learned enough about the region to teach Ms. Giardina’s novels *Storming Heaven* and *The Unquiet Earth* at 3 different Universities. Others from my cohort have since gotten their Phd’s and are doing the same. The knowledge that we gained at RU has been spread in College and University classrooms from Eastern Washington to Western New York, in scholarly journals and in works of fiction. This program has touched more people than the numbers we have yet to see can ever indicate.
7 Lisa C. Hurst // Mar 24, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I did not become aware of the impact of Appalachia on our culture and environment until last summer when I took an Appalachian literature course with Dr. Theresa L. Burriss, a professor at Radford University. Her enthusiasm and passion for all things Appalachian are addictive and I am a better person for it. She taught me things I was completely unaware of, such as the value of Appalachian literature on our society as a whole. Dr. Burriss is a great advocate and supporter of Appalachia. Her expertise of the region, culture, and literature is superb! After taking Dr. Burriss’ class, I wanted to know more about Appalachia and become more involved. I am taking Dr. Grace Toney Edwards’ Appalachia in the Media class this semester and I am learning more than I thought possible about how Appalachia has been perceived and treated by the media. Courses like these can not be assigned a price tag–they are priceless.
The administration at Radford University would be sincerely committing a diservice to the entire community and Appalachian region if the Appalachian Studies program were discontinued. The App Studies program is very well respected among its collegiate peers in the region and beyond.
To the Radford University administration and the power-that-be: Please do not discontine a program that means so much to the faculty, students, staff, and stakeholders of Radford University. The liberal arts foundation of this university would be forever decimated and diminished if that were to happen.
8 Roudy Red // Mar 25, 2009 at 12:23 am
You/ve got it absoultely correct Lisa.
The lackeys of the RU administration in the expedited review of the App Studies certificate program have placed themslves in the unhappy position of being one of three things; incompetent, liars, or both. This because they resisted and decried the factual data. It will haunt them.
In a more positive vein, isn’t it a marvel that you too have had the epiphany that Dr. Burriss, Dr. Edwards’ student, had about all things Appalchian? This has been going on for 30+ years at RU, and the hired thugs with titles of dean, director, provost…are for reasons that go beyond reason trying to do away with all that past good and block the future benefit. Don’t let them do it!
9 B.J. Nicklin // Mar 25, 2009 at 3:33 am
I am a Language Arts teacher in Hohenfels, Germany who teaches a heavy load of Appalachian lit in the classroom and am completely horrified at the decision to discontinue the world’s premiere Appalachian Studies program at Radford. I have a rich wealth of Appalachian resources and knowledge because of the often under-appreciated work of Dr. Edwards. I teach *The Unquiet Earth*, read Appalachian poetry and short stories with my students, and have students compile their own folktales based on Dr. Edwards work.
I am ashamed that my Alma Mater, who I esteemed in high regard to colleagues and encouraged my students to attend, has committed such educational blasphemy on a program that has been the cornerstone of Radford’s academic reputation and made the university stand out. What the Academic Review Board fails to realize is the broad sweeping ramifications of this decision which are not just regional, but global. Elements of the curriculum developed on the inspiration of Dr. Edwards work are being taught in Japan, Korea, England, Italy and here in Germany. Is Radford really so blind that they can’t see the far-reaching impact and importance of the research and work that has been done?
One of the saddest ironies is that Dr. Edwards has toiled a long road, enriching the lives of so many students and empowering Appalachia with a legitimate voice, only to be unceremoniously disempowered, dismissed and silenced by academia. I would hope that Radford’s focus should be on preserving the programs which foster the school’s overall education and academic reputation and reconsider its decision to cut the Appalachian Studies Program.
10 Jerry L. Haynes // Mar 26, 2009 at 8:18 am
I have read letters from several proud RU alum, but I truly believe to be successful a University must reach beyond their alumni base. I myself am a proud Hokie, but over the last 3 years, I have made more trips to the RU campus than to the Tech campus. For all the trips except two (to the theater), my trips on campus have been related to the App Study Center. I am very proud of this resource, and have told many others about what a great asset this center is to all of Appalachia. I have used the center for reaseach on all three of my books. The thoughts of not having this source of knowledge that brings such global recognition to the university is hard to comprehend.
11 Martha J. Asbury // Mar 27, 2009 at 7:02 am
I, too, am a proud citizen of the Appalachian area. Its history is rich, rich, rich. Why should it not be taught? Why is multi-cultural education omitting the study of Appalachian history? Our history and life-style goes back to Celtic and American Indian life-styles. The strength of our people is the stuff legends are made of, and we should celebrate that. How best to celebrate it? By teaching it.
12 B. Chelsea Adams // Mar 30, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I taught in the English department of Radford University from 1986-2006 and then again from 2008 to the present. I am now coordinating the GTA/Mentor Program of the English department. Through my associations with students and faculty, as a parent whose daughter graduated from Radford, and as a local resident, I have a developed a sense of what Radford’s identity is. Radford is a small liberal arts school, which is known for its teaching. Its mission has been to develop a well-rounded person, someone aware of multiple perspectives, what we used to call a Renaissance man. What I would call a Renaissance person, someone comfortable with and able to speak knowledgeably about many subjects, someone ready for the complexities of today’s world. But Radford’s identity is broader than that, it is tightly woven into the fabric of Appalachian culture. When we think of Radford, we think tartan colors (even after the change to red and white), Highlander Festival, Highland Summer Conference, Selu, AASIS. Radford University draws residents of southwestern Virginia as well as from other parts of VA, the country, and the world. Those local students find a place to celebrate their roots and more importantly to understand them, to understand the positive traits of a culture that was dismissed as hillbilly. Many of us learn what Appalachian culture has given us. I am a Yankee, born in Connecticut. I have learned so much about strength and independence from my neighbors and from Radford’s Appalachian Studies Program. And Radford is the only Virginia university with a graduate program in Appalachian Studies, and in the short time it has been available 8 people have gone through the program and graduated.
The saddest part of what is happening is that this change in mission has happened without consulting students or faculty, or consulting them at the last minute. When American universities are being looked at to see if they are producing students who are well prepared for understanding a world of different cultures, Radford has cut Cultural Anthropology. When understanding all the changes humanity is going through Radford has cut its semesters from 15 to 14 weeks, and its exam period from 5 to 4 days. The calendar committee did this, again without discussion with students and faculty.
I worry that Radford might discontinue the graduate program in Appalachian Studies. I worry that Radford has forgotten what draws students to it. We will not be the small liberal arts university with the wonderful Appalachian Studies Program. We will be another cookie cutter university where career is the only goal, a vocational school, and whatever is sacrificed along the way is okay. The administration seems to have forgotten what we stand for. I’m not sure students will be attracted to Radford without our special identity.
B. Chelsea Adams
13 OtherSilentBob // Mar 30, 2009 at 4:22 pm
AMEN! I think you summed up exactly how a lot of us have been feeling for the last months! Thank you!
14 YankeeByBirthAppalachianByChoice // Mar 30, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Beautifully articulated, Chelsea!
I never knew or understood what it meant to be “Appalachian” until I took a grad level class with Grace Toney Edwards. Hers was the most challenging, most work intensive , and most rewarding class I had taken throughout both my undergrad and graduate careers at Radford University.
I left that class believing EVERY RU student would gain an appreciation not only for this glorious region, but for their own culture and home, if they were to take one AppStudies class (it should be required!). I know for a fact that my life has been enriched by Grace Toney Edwards, the ARSC, and Radford Univerity.
President Kyle, Dr. Stanton, and others who wish to end Appalachian Studies, you should seriously take a class with Dr. Edwards before deciding to eliminate the program. Your lives will be changed for the better and you will appreciate our wonderful culture, traditions, and region. I guarantee it.
You should stop looking down on all things Appalachian, Penny, and realize that you are Appalachia (have you actually listened to yourself speak? Where do you think that twang came from?). In spite of what you may think, you are NOT any better than anyone else, no matter how much money you make or how rude you are to those you perceive as beneath you.
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