Jennifer Howard

When word got out in early May that Louisiana State University might slash its press’s subsidy as a result of the state’s budget contraction, Michael V. Martin, chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus, issued a brief written statement. For those who admire the press, it was not very reassuring: “We hope the governor and our legislature will provide sufficient funding to maintain support of LSU Press, as it is a very valuable asset to this university, the people of the state, and many beyond,” Mr. Martin said. “We face, however, extraordinary economic conditions, and we must protect the academic core… Read more...

Got word today that Louisiana’s state budget woes could force LSU Press to close. Supporters are rallying people to the cause, asking them to tell the LSU administration and the state legislature how important the press is to the intellectual life of the university and the state. I took some heat from a commenter on the Chronicle’s news blog about my choice of the phrase “might get the ax” to describe the danger LSU Press faces. I’d say that if a you cut a press’s subsidy with the knowledge that doing so is likely to force it to close, you… Read more...

Insightful, entertaining, and thought-provoking, Middle Age is fascinating reading and for anyone heading for a ‘mid-life crisis,’ it is much cheaper than buying a sports car…. Read more...

VQR has put its 1973-2005 archives online, including a short story of mine called “Act of Humanity.” If I were writing it now, I’d go with a different title, but I am still glad to see it available in something handier than the dreaded PDF format. Thanks, VQR…. Read more...

Maybe not the best headline ever, but the funniest one I’ve seen today. Not that there’s a lot of competition out there. (“Major U.S. Companies to Slash 45,000 Jobs” just doesn’t cut it in the funny department.)… Read more...

As you might have heard, it’s been a little busy here in D.C. the last week or so. I caught some of the peripheral inaugural action—happy crowds, massive litter, bunting all over—in between writing two news stories, three blog items, and a feature for the Chronicle. It turned out to be a big week not just for the country but for university presses. The Association of American University Presses released a sales survey that confirmed some of the gloomy anecdotes heard in publishing circles lately. Utah State University Press learned that it might get the axe because of cuts to… Read more...