Hello!

Winter Wheat is almost here, and the editors of Mid-American Review are looking forward to welcoming you to the campus of BGSU for four days of inspiration and fun.

This note is meant to provide some final details on where to go on campus to catch all of the festivities. I recommend that you print out this somewhat lengthy message and bring it with you to the festival, as it answers many questions that may arise.

Please note that if you registered for Friday or Saturday sessions, you are expected, and a spot has been reserved for you. If you cannot make it, someone--namely, your session leader--will be disappointed. If you must cancel, please drop me an e-mail to let me know so that we can adjust accordingly. Feel free to bring friends, however--the more, the merrier!

IMPORTANT: Please note that one set of events--Friday's workshops and creative sessions--will be held not in the BGSU Student Union, but in another campus building, Olscamp Hall. Directions to both venues are found at the end of this message, as are directions to East Hall, the site of Sunday's contemplative sessions.

First, a basic schedule of events. All events will be held in either the Bowen-Thompson Student Union (abbreviated BTSU), Olscamp Hall, or East Hall.

      9 a.m. to noon, A Forum on Composition--Bowen-Thompson Student Union (BTSU) rooms 308, 314, and 315: A discussion of issues and strategies in the teaching of college writing

      2 to 5:30 p.m., State of the Art: The Winter Wheat Symposium on the Essay in All Its Forms and Variations--BTSU 308: Panels and papers on creative nonfiction

      7:30 p.m., Reading by essayist Debra Marquart--BTSU Theater (room 206)

      noon to 1 p.m., Registration and sign-in for Friday Sessions--SECOND FLOOR OF OLSCAMP HALL. On-site registration is permitted.

      1-4:20 p.m., Workshops and Creative Sessions--SECOND FLOOR OF OLSCAMP HALL. Registration required, but can be completed on-site. Sessions begin at 1, 2:10, and 3:20.

      4:30 p.m., Roundtable Discussion on the Impact of the Short-Short in All Genres--BTSU room 207

      7:30 p.m., Reading by fiction writer Dan Chaon and poet David Baker--BTSU Theater (room 206)

WORKSHOPS AND CREATIVE SESSIONS--ALL DAY at the BTSU

      8-9 a.m., Registration and sign-in. Late registrants welcome. Registration table is outside of room 308 in the BTSU. Session locations will be provided at registration.

      9-10:15 a.m., First session

      10:30-11:45 a.m., Second session

      noon to 1 p.m., Lunch on your own

      1-2:15 p.m., Third session

      2:30-3:45 p.m., Fourth session

      4 p.m., Reading by poet Tyehimba Jess--BTSU Theater (room 207)

      5 p.m., Cocktails, BTSU room 228

      5:30 p.m., Dinner, BTSU room 228. Registration required; price: $15 per plate or $7 for students. Some spots are still available; write back to reserve yours, or call (419) 372-2725. Dinner on your own also an option.

      7 p.m., Dessert reception and more cocktails, BTSU room 228--open to all.

      7 p.m., Reading by fiction writer Jean Thompson

      7:45 p.m., Open mic for all participants--two-page max (firm).

CONTEMPLATIVE SESSIONS, East Hall--tai chi, knitting, meditation, magic, creative movement, nude model, and more

      10-11 a.m., First session

      11 a.m. to noon, Second session

      noon to 1 p.m., lunch--our famous PBJ Buffet

      1-2 p.m., Third session

DIRECTIONS and PARKING INFORMATION:

Bowling Green State University is located about 25 miles south of Toledo, 125 miles west of Cleveland, 180 miles north of Cincinnati, and 125 miles northwest of Columbus. The campus is adjacent to I-75, but is also easily reached via US-23 and OH-25. We suggest Mapquest for more detailed directions from your location, and a map of Bowling Green--www.mapquest.com.

Once in Bowling Green, you can locate campus on the eastern end of town, west of I-75. The Bowen-Thompson Student Union is on the west end of campus. The campus map can be found in the "Quick Links" section of the BGSU homepage, www.bgsu.edu. In short, however, the I- 75 exit (exit 181) will bring you to Wooster Avenue. Take this west (toward the football stadium) about three miles (rough estimate) until you reach the stoplight at Manville/Thurstin Avenue. Turn right onto Thurstin to reach the parking lots.

For parking adjacent to the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, park in Lot E, Lot 4, or Lot 4a. This will be available from Thursday through Sunday. These lots are across Thurstin Avenue from the Union.

For parking adjacent to Olscamp Hall (and the Friday sessions), park in Lot N. If you're on Wooster, coming from I-75, turn right on Mercer at the stoplight. Go down Mercer until Ridge Ave (it only goes left). Turn left. This will take you to Lot N, which will be on your left-hand side.

Lot N is also a good place to park when attending sessions in East Hall. East Hall is located right in front of the library (a tall building that is hard to miss on campus due to the unusual black design that adorns its front and back surfaces).

Do not park in specially reserved spots, or it is likely that you will be ticketed.

My fellow editors and I look forward to getting to know you at Winter Wheat. Here's hoping that the festival provides you with both relaxation and inspiration, as well as the start of many new writing projects to get you through the long winter.

Best,
Karen Craigo
Coordinator

For more information, contact Karen at karenka@bgnet.bgsu.edu.