Jennifer Howard laughing

Jennifer Howard

Writer, editor, journalist.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Writing
    • Journalism
    • Fiction
  • Editing
  • Contact

When Being a “Valuable Asset” Isn’t Good Enough

June 1, 2009

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 of LSU first and foremost.”

Anyone who cares about university presses should pay close attention to Mr. Martin’s choice of words. His statement makes it plain that being a “valuable asset” no longer guarantees a press a secure place in the “academic core” of its parent institution. These days, that can be a fatal degree of separation.

Filed Under: Publish or Perish

Previous Post

Twitterific

Next Post

Ten Things I’d Rather Not Know About You Via Twitter

Recent Writing

  • “A paler shade of white”: HAVING AND BEING HAD by Eula Biss (review)
  • “Do We Have Victorians to Thank for Consumerism?”
  • “The Complicated Role of the Modern Public Library”

Recent Posts

  • Book event: VA Festival of the Book “Shelf Life”
  • Interview: “Rising Up With Sonali”
  • Live at East City Bookshop

Get my newsletter

Get updates on writing projects. But that's not all! I will also be sharing a few bright! shiny! things! I pick up here and there as they catch my fancy.

Subscribe

About Jen

Jen Howard sitting in front of a brick wall. She is smiling.

Writer, journalist, editor, gadabout. Book- and nature lover. Washingtonian. LLC. Read more ยป

Latest Posts

  • Book event: VA Festival of the Book “Shelf Life”
  • Interview: “Rising Up With Sonali”
  • Live at East City Bookshop
  • The TLS: “Coming Clean” (review)
  • Vox: Quoted in an article on “The New Maximalism”

Social Media

Tweets by JenHoward
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Content is © Jennifer Howard or respective owners | Site by Rocketkoi