Editorial: UNLV earns high praise

Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007 | 1:16 a.m.

Since 2005 the venerable Atlantic Monthly has devoted a special summer issue to fiction writing. In the current special issue a regular writer for the magazine, Edward Delaney, has penned an article headlined "Where Great Writers Are Made." Ranking high in his estimation is UNLV.

Delaney researched graduate-level writing programs at colleges and universities across the country. Christina Littlefield, the Las Vegas Sun's higher education reporter, wrote in a story for Thursday's paper that Delaney had not given any thought to UNLV's programs before beginning his research.

But as his research progressed, he encountered so much praise for UNLV that he concluded the university's master's program in fine arts was among the five most innovative in the country. He also concluded that the university's doctoral program in creative writing had earned a spot in the top five.

Instrumental in refining the programs praised by Atlantic Monthly are Carol Harter, former UNLV president and now executive director of the Black Mountain Institute ; Douglas Unger, interim chairman of the university's English department ; and Richard Wiley, associate director of the Black Mountain Institute.

Also helping propel UNLV into the national literary spotlight have been contributors such as gaming executive Glenn Schaeffer and Beverly Rogers, wife of university system Chancellor Jim Rogers. In addition to his financial contributions to many writing programs, Schaeffer developed the idea for the university's Black Mountain Institute, a literary think tank. Rogers also has donated heavily to UNLV's English and creative writing programs.

All of those involved in any role are owed the community's gratitude. It's an honor for everyone in Southern Nevada when a local institution receives national praise.