Dear Mario,

Rich and I found ourselves together yesterday evening and we addressed the issue of the future direction of the Program. After considerable consideration, we agreed that it is quite difficult for any one of us to suggest a future direction without having at hand the information about the various larger trends in graduate school applications, for instance–in terms of the percentage of those applying in some aspect of American literature and/or studies versus applications in other areas. We also need to take into full account, at the same time, how we can maximize our strengths within the frame of the Center’s relation to the various campuses and underscore our existing strength as a Program in certain areas–in Gender Theory and Studies, for example, as well as in American Studies. Balancing/arranging of all these concerns is, of course, like a very complex juggling act. It is/will be impossible to satisfy the desires of all constituencies, but necessary to take all of these aspects into account along the way of determining what makes best sense for the present, given the larger national frame and what will make for optimizing success in what we are attempting/continuing to attempt as educators/participants in the ongoing project of what Emerson so beautifully described as “this new yet unapproachable America.”

Ever,
Joan