On Thursday afternoon, Anne Waldman’s Socratic Rap was overtaken by a discussion of the budgets cuts at the Jack Kerouac School, the Naropa Summer Writing Program, and Naropa University in general.

On Wednesday evening about thirty or so students, faculty, alumni gathered in a large circle on the grass south of Naropa. Major grievances were aired: unfair cuts of essential jobs and services, the timing of the cuts (at the outset of the Summer Writing Program), stonewalling, withholding on the part of top administrators. Students question whether Naropa will be able to deliver what was originally sold to them.

Anne Waldman, Director Emeritus of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, clarified a lot about new academic models being proposed. Only two weeks ago did she and others in Writing & Poetics become aware of the proposals.

At this writing, what form the Kerouac School and the Writing Program at Naropa will take is still being decided. Key stakeholders, students, workers, and alumni have inserted themselves into the structural adjustment process.

Naropa President Stuart Lord is expected to appear at a meeting by Thursday, July 8th at 8:30 AM.

A public hearing of poets, writers, and community members will also be held on campus 2130 Arapahoe at 6 PM, Friday, July 2, 2010.

Tuesday, July 5th there is an all day sit-in, teach-in at Naropa under the Sycamore tree 2130 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder.

Joe Richey
B.A., Naropa, Class of 1983