After 22 years of bringing contemporary authors to Ohio University students and area residents, the Spring Literary Festival might have come to an end if the English Department is forced to make the most severe of its budget cut options.
Budget cuts to the department next year, spurred by the university's projected $8.55 million deficit, might force the department to cancel the festival, said Joseph McLaughlin, chair of the department. The College of Arts and Sciences asked each of its departments to propose cuts for three different budget scenarios, and one of the three scenarios involves the elimination of the festival.
I have heard from significant people that it is highly unlikely that we will have to make the worst-case scenario cut
McLaughlin said. If that's the case we won't have to cut the Spring Literary Festival.
McLaughlin said the festival costs about $40,000 annually to pay, house and feed visiting writers and to advertise. The English department must also pay the cost of hiring a coordinator of special programs to plan and run the literary festival to the tune of $36,360.
This year's coordinator for special programs was Kevin Haworth. He will return to the position next year if the festival is not cut, McLaughlin said. Haworth also teaches some classes at OU.
The program will be cut, McLaughlin said, only if the department is forced to make the most extreme of the possible budget cuts at $95,000. The department's budget this year was more than $5 million.
To deal with lesser budget cuts, the English department will continue with a plan to restructure its visiting high school teacher program, McLaughlin said. Although the department has created more competitive salaries for those teachers, the change from three to two teachers will save them about $20,000.
The $42,000 budget cut plan would also require the department to reduce the number of post-doctoral fellowships it offers. The most extensive plan would require these changes, cutting the Spring Literary Festival and reducing the teaching load and salaries of two or three Group II, non-tenure track, faculty.
The final budget decision will be made in late June, after the state has finalized its budget and the Board of Trustees approves the university's budget at its June meeting, McLaughlin said.
The three-day literary festival, which took place last week at Baker University Center, is sponsored by the creative writing program of the English department. It invites writers from all over the world to OU to give lectures and read their work aloud.
Joan Connor, director of creative writing, said she hoped the university would find a way to preserve such an important program.
This country is rapidly becoming illiterate Connor said. This festival reminds people of the importance of the art form.
McLaughlin said the College of Arts and Sciences also is attempting to lessen the amount of cuts they will have to make by not filling positions opened by retirements. This year, the English department lost two full-time faculty members who will not be replaced.
When the college was forced to make budget cuts last year, a similar method was used. McLaughlin said he thinks the results of this will be felt next year.
I think there will be a serious reduction in the number of Group I faculty on campus next year
McLaughlin said. It's a great concern to me.
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