Symposium draws renowned poetry critic

NEW PALTZ — On Thursday, April 24, the State University of New York at New Paltz welcomes renowned poetry critic Dr. Helen Vendler as the keynote speaker for the 15th annual English Graduate Symposium. From 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the College Terrace, the Harvard University Professor of English will offer critical responses to papers presented by eight New Paltz graduate students, following those remarks with a keynote address on the poetry of William Butler Yeats.

Having acted as judge for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, Dr. Vendler will add her considerable insight to the graduate symposium titled “‘This be the Verse’: Poetry Past and Present.” Following her keynote address, which begins at 7:30 p.m., there will be a question-and-answer period and a book signing.

Dr. Vendler is known for her ability to, as Tufts University President John DiBiaggio explains, bring “poetry out of an esoteric realm to a place where all may understand and appreciate its meaning and beauty.”

Dr. Vendler has contributed articles and reviews to many prominent publications, including the New York Times Book Review and the London Review of Books. She also serves as the poetry critic for The New Yorker, a position she has held since 1978. In addition to these accomplishments, Dr. Vendler has been the author or editor of more than two dozen books.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Pauline Uchmanowicz at (845) 257-2755.

Note to Editors: A photograph of Dr. Helen Vendler may be downloaded from the SUNY New Paltz Web site at www.newpaltz.edu/news/images/vendler.html.