Friday, September 07, 2012

Logan, Utah

Enjoying the Utah - Utah State football game, the latter the home team in Logan, with a halftime lead. They haven't beaten Utah since the 90s.

Utah State in Logan
I have a Utah State story. When I was a grad student, one of the more popular English professors, who had a specialty only recently becoming popular, was "stolen away" by Utah State. I and other fans of the professor couldn't believe it. (I bought my 12-string from him, as a matter of fact.) How can Utah State, UTAH STATE, raid the UNIVERSITY of OREGON for its best professors?

When I talked to the professor, I understood. A significant raise. Considerable financial support for developing his specialty. A lighter teaching load. Man! What's wrong with the U of Oregon to refuse to match this and keep him?

I hadn't learned yet what a problem Oregon had, and still has, financing education, all across the board. No wonder things like this happen.

Well, I'll root for Utah State, the big underdog. Logan is God's country. I saw the professor at the reunion on which Deconstructing Sally is based. Retired. Recovering from a stroke. But happy to have had a great career at ... not the U of Oregon ... at Utah State.

No comments: