“Our core values are incredibly resilient”: An interview with Christopher Pexa

December 15, 2020

This week the Modern Language Association announced that it has awarded The MLA Prize for Studies in Native American Literatures, Cultures, or Languages to University of Minnesota Press author Christopher Pexa. The award will be presented at the Association’s virtual convention on January 9, 2021.  The committee’s citation reads:  Christopher J. Pexa’s Translated Nation: Rewriting … More “Our core values are incredibly resilient”: An interview with Christopher Pexa

#ReadUP: Reckoning with mental illness.

November 13, 2020

This post is published as part of the Association of University Press’s University Press Week blog tour. #ReadUP.   Mindy Greiling was a state legislator for twenty years. She helped found the nation’s first state mental health caucus, and has served on state and national boards of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Greiling’s son, … More #ReadUP: Reckoning with mental illness.

On writing—and processing, and editing—difficult matters in a memoir.

November 10, 2020

BY MINDY GREILING Mental health advocate and former state legislator Describing my personal feelings was the hardest part of writing my memoir. My writing group nurtured my fledgling attempts to capture the story of son Jim’s mental illness and my legislative work, but after offering encouraging compliments, they would invariably ask things like, “But, Mindy, … More On writing—and processing, and editing—difficult matters in a memoir.

Courage of Truth: In Memory of Bernard Stiegler

August 17, 2020

Bernard leaves behind many orphans like me, in whom his personal and philosophical generosity helped cultivate a certain courage of truth. I am one of many to whom he gave philosophical wings, like the flying fish he used as a mascot for his School, École de philosophie d’Épineuil-le-fleuriel. These orphans, as was my case, were often from unphilosophical backgrounds and saw his writings, but also his backstory, as proof that we too, perhaps, could dare to think. … More Courage of Truth: In Memory of Bernard Stiegler

Reading for Racial Justice: An Open Access Collection

June 3, 2020

The evening of Memorial Day, May 25, was calm and warm in the Twin Cities, and along with many of our neighbors, we took advantage of the long spring evening. But while we were grilling, gardening, or otherwise commemorating loved ones on this holiday, police were killing George Floyd at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. … More Reading for Racial Justice: An Open Access Collection

The Power of a Pause

May 22, 2020

BY GERDA ROELVINK Over the past six months in Australia we have experienced a long and extreme drought, devastating widespread bush fires, and now the Covid-19 pandemic. These crises have brought to the fore already simmering questions about how we are to survive, let alone thrive, with others on this planet. Achille Mbembe’s (2020) reflection … More The Power of a Pause

On caring for a loved one with mental illness during Covid-19.

May 21, 2020

BY MINDY GREILING Many people are seeking mental health support during the sheltering-in-place COVID-19 siege. Social media is fraught with posts about the anxiety and depression it can cause, and the National Institute of Mental Health is researching how stressors related to the virus affect mental health. Our son Jim, who has a mental illness, … More On caring for a loved one with mental illness during Covid-19.