Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

 

CANYON, Texas — One of author Raymond Carver’s most well-regarded short stories is in the spotlight for the February installment of West Texas A&M University’s Great Books Series.

Dr. Eric Meljac, assistant professor of English and director of creative writing, will lead the discussion of Carver’s “Cathedral” at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 via Zoom.

The minimalist story, the title work of Carver’s 1983 collection, depicts a pivotal encounter between a blind man and a sighted man.

“‘Cathedral’ has been a story I have taught and thought about often for the past 20 years,” Meljac said. “In my early days with the story, I thought it to be a story of redemption. As I matured, I began to see it as a story of stasis—that what we see in the end is different than what it seems to be. In other words, no matter what, some people will never ‘see’.”

The discussion series — sponsored by the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages — is open to those who either have or haven’t read the book, said Dr. Daniel Bloom, organizer and associate professor of philosophy.

WT professors and guest lecturers lead the monthly discussions.

The series began in 2011 and is traditionally held in person on the second Tuesday of the month at Burrowing Owl Books, 7406 S.W. 34th Ave., Suite 2B, in Amarillo. It shifted to Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic; a return to in-person meetings is expected to occur in coming months.

To register for the January discussion, email Bloom at [email protected].

The series is one way in which WT serves the region by offering engagement with a variety of literary and philosophical texts. Being a learner-centered university is a key principle of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised more than $85 million.

 

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs, 39 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.