Is Purdue really aiming to kill creative writing program?

As College of Liberal Arts dean locks admissions to English grad programs over funding dispute, profs, students warn about fallout across campus, question Purdue commitment to diversity

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

Is Purdue’s dean of the College of Liberal Arts looking to kill a high-profile graduate program in the university’s English Department by choking off admissions and recruiting heading into the next academic year?

Students and professors, in English and beyond at Purdue, say it’s feeling that way, after an ongoing internal fight over funding spilled into the open last week. It’s spawned a petition with nearly 3,500 signatures as of the weekend and dire predictions that cutting admissions for graduate programs would be felt by undergrads in most majors across campus, sooner rather than later.

College of Liberal Arts Dean David Reingold was telling another story.