English Faculty Talk About Kurt Vonnegut and His Carnegie Mellon Connection

Three Department of English faculty members are quoted in a two-part series from CMU’s Michael Henninger on Kurt Vonnegut’s time at Carnegie Mellon, which included participation in the Army Specialized Training Program.

In the summer of 1943, the Carnegie Institute of Technology, precursor to Carnegie Mellon University, transformed its grounds into the ASTP, a training school for the U.S. Army as America ramped up its engagement in World War II.

“Kurt Vonnegut’s Little-Known Carnegie Mellon Connection” includes a reflection from Kathy Newman, associate professor of English, who teaches a course on book banning —past and present. Her students have completed projects on Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse 5” and “Breakfast of Champions.”

Also in the story, Jake Grefenstette, an adjunct professor in the Department of English and poetry editor for the Carnegie Mellon University Press, commented on Pittsburgh literary history, calling it “one of the great poetry cities.” Grefenstette is president and executive director of the International Poetry Forum. Its founder, poet Samuel Hazo, was behind Vonnegut’s 1971 invitation to speak in Pittsburgh.

Readers will also learn more from Jeffrey Williams, a professor of English and of literary and cultural studies, who is quoted in “The WWII Army Specialized Training Program at Carnegie Tech.” William researches contemporary higher education and comments on the relationship between government in universities during times of war and peace.