These reflections have been provided by previous participants of the conference. Be sure to check out notes on building abstracts.

Not to be immodest, but I think of the initiation of Practical Criticism Midwest as the most important thing I've done here at Ball State. Each year, I am astounded at the range of interests our graduate students display. Each year, I am amazed at the courage exhibited not only by the doggerel contestants, but by every student who has never before presented a paper at a professional conference and who nevertheless takes the risk of sharing research and creative work in this unfamiliar venue. I can say without reservation that those students are transformed by the experience; in every case, they have come out of PCM with a new confidence that confirms their membership in our discipline and their status as scholars.

I always learn a great deal at PCM. I especially enjoy the presentations that are outside my own field of specialization -- these offer me a window onto other areas in the discipline that I would not ordinarily have the time or opportunity to investigate. And I learn things about myself as a professional as I watch others go through the intimidating but elevating experience of participating in the on-going debates in the profession. I also learn about the limits of my own scholarship. There is so much I don't know; it's good to be reminded about that from time to time.

The doggerel, of course, speaks for itself.

As a whole, PCM combines the exchange of ideas with the formation of bonds across the areas in our department and the (albeit temporary) leveling of the academic hierarchy. And it provides a small thread of continuity in a community that will ultimately scatter. It is a peculiar and precious moment of stability and support in an otherwise fluid and often isolated graduate school experience. It is a good thing.

--Pattie White

Dr. White touched on what is for me the most valuable aspect of our annual PCM event--we are each members of a department many of us would like to be known as "English Studies." We study, we are scholars of language. The study of language, of course, is the oldest of the humanities, and its study was for the ancient Greeks that which most allowed us to understand and exhibit our humanness. We cannot afford in this world that uses language more as a weapon than as a healing device, to pass on any opportunity to talk together. Let's gather again, to do it up well, for this year!

--Paul Ranieri

Practical Criticism is a wonderful event for the graduate students. Each student should take advantage of it and get involved with the program. I've been here eight years and every year it's a new and exciting experience. The students do such interesting things and we aren't always aware of each other and individual interests. I appreciate the international students and the unique experiences they bring to the conference. One of the funniest presentations was when Hisham Monassar spoke about the movie Babe (the children's movie about the pig). He should have that paper published!

I remember a few doggerel moments. For instance, when Jeff White serenaded the prelim writers and when we were given a music/doggeral debut by John Prince. Wendy Bruce is consistently funny with her perspective, as is Gwen Vickery.

You all should know that you have a lot of talent and with it a responsbility to use it in good ways. I know it sounds very "parental" to say I'm proud of you and I'm not your parent, but I am proud of you. I expect great things from each of you.

--Brenda Yates

I have gone to seven of the eight first Practical Criticism Midwest conferences and have found them the embodiment of the best that our graduate students in English can produce here. The papers--even when they are far out of my "field"--are lively and entertaining, and those IN my field--litera- ture--are often of very high quality (especially those originally done for me, of course!) The students who make the presentations gain valuable experience in presenting materials in a supportive and non-threatening professional context. And the doggerel is some of the worst I have ever heard, anywhere, memorably dreadful. Our graduate students in English show themselves to be witty, versatile, accomplished. It is, I am sure, a time-consuming conference for its participants, but it always makes me proud of our department and our graduate students in English.

Yours sincerely,

--Frances Rippy

The feedback that I received from different people after my presentation at PCMW 8 made me feel particularly proud as a full member of the English department. It has been an awesome experience for me to address an audience of fellow graduate students and a group of dedicated professors. To all the newbies, I would say "don't just read the history of Practical Criticism, make it! Be part of it!"

--Paulinus Ayao Ayivon

I really wanted to bounce some ideas off the different voices in our department, and I wanted to share them with these different people all at once. We have few opportunities to present ideas in an understanding environment like this where many from our department are available to receive and freely discuss them. Presenting at PCM-8 allowed me the opportunity to learn how wholehearted and sincere others in our department really are. And since then, I've been learning how others in the field at large are often just as wholehearted, sincere, and willing to hear my obscure, inexperienced, idealistic hmms. The very same hmms, in fact, that have been developing out of the conversation started at PCM.

--Rich Rice

I almost did not present at PCM-8 just because I was too busy, too nervous, too some-kind-of-other-excuse, but doing so was worth it. I presented on a panel of three and have since become good friends and co-workers with my panel peers. Not only did we have the opportunity to present a touchy subject (the job market) to a friendly audience who gave constructive feedback, but also this presentation grew into another group session for the 1998 M/MLA Conference in St. Louis, MO. Presenting to the PCM audience helped us see weak areas in our work and improve upon them before trying it on an outside audience. I also enjoyed learning more about what others in the department are doing!

--Windy Rachal

Stay tuned for more!