More on the Future of LSU Press

From InsideHigherEd.com: The American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association are aiding in the fight to save LSU Press from the chopping block. It is a real treasure among academic publishers and offers a wide and deep list in southern history, southern literature, Civil War history, and other fields. Such a loss could never really be replaced.

NCAA Infractions at Memphis????

Apparently, the boys from Indianapolis have leveled serious charges of academic fraud at the University of Memphis men's basketball program. The Tigers were once headed by Coach John Calipari, but the good coach is now the Lord and Savior at the University of Kentucky. Strange, but no one seems shocked by this. I wonder if this will be another case of the sins of the departed coach being visited upon his last institution, while he grazes happily and unscathed in greener pastures (to the tune of $31 million)?

Trout Fishing in WNC

I guess it isn't a well-kept secret, but we have some of the best trout fishing in the nation right here. OK, I may be a bit biased. This recent article in the New York Times offers some good highlights. And it reminds me to do more fishing this summer. My son was talking about it just the other day...

Budget Cuts and the Historical Profession

Times are tight, no doubt about that. The global economic crisis has hit individuals, corporations, and governments very hard and there is no clear end in sight. Two news stories I read today touched on how massive cutbacks are hitting the historical profession. The first, from the Raleigh News & Observer, discusses the ways in which North Carolina museums and historic sites are coping during these poor economic times. The second notes the potential closure of Louisiana State University Press, one of the foremost publishers of works in southern history, the Civil War, and related fields. Tough times, indeed.