Is the Summer Over?

Yes, indeedy, here it is August 12th, and I seem to have let the blog go on vacation--it's been wandering about the Cape trying to find shelter from the myriad thunderstorms that have plagued New England this July and August. But it's back, and if not tanned, at least relaxed.

The first order of business is to announce Clark's Memorial Service for Winston, which will be Wednesday, September 10, at 4:00 pm in Tilton Hall at the Student Activities Center. Ginger reports that Debbie Napier will be sending up more photos soon, and we will have a jazz combo to precede and follow the service, as well as provide, perhaps, some musical interlude. The department will be gathering on August 22nd to plan what we'd like to do for the service. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Just to make it clear to all those who may have been confused by the tragic circumstances last May, the department didn't know until just before Graduation that Winston had taken his own life. Some of you may have wondered why we didn't bring that up right away; the answer is that we didn't know until later--until just about the time that the Worcester Telegram & Gazette was preparing to reveal it. We weren't keeping anything from any of you; we simply didn't know ourselves and were as confused for a time as anyone else. If there were any hard feelings on the part of any of our students--both majors and non-majors who have taken Winston's classes--we apologize.

In any case, if you have any remembrances or comments you'd like to make for the memorial issue of the English Times now in preparation, send it to the department.

By the way, Fern points out that there is a nice comment by Winston's Worcester neighbor T. Sutton Jr. posted on Eric Gordy's blog (some of you may remember Eric from last year here at Clark).



More later on the service--and more on the end of the year festivities as we approach a new semester.



--Jay