|
|
|
|
 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello and welcome. I'm Mike Nikitas from NECN. New England Cable News, guest hosting tonight on NH Outlook. |
| Preshow #1 Return to index of stories... |
In this edition. University of New Hampshire Students debate how to prevent a student celebration from turning into a riot. |
| Preshow #2 Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire's chief of infectious disease describes the new concern about fighting tuberculosis in the state. |
| Preshow #3 Return to index of stories... |
And later, the first in our series of interviews with winners of the 2003 literary awards. |
| Intro Riot Resolution Return to index of stories... |
The student senate at the University of New Hampshire has voted to condemn the Red Sox riot on October 16th. By most reports, about 2000 students swarmed into downtown Durham following the Red Sox loss in the baseball playoffs. The crowds set fires, threw bottles and rocks at police, and caused property damage. On Sunday, the student senate debated how to restrain fellow students from becoming a mob. As Richard Ager tells us, the student leaders also asked for restraint on the part of authorities, fearing the use of greater police force could make future disturbances worse. |
| Riot Resolutions Return to index of stories... |
James Bednark/ member - UNH Student Senate: We the many members of the UNH student body, faculty and staff, herein declare the acts of the minority of the student body as well as non-students on Oct. 16, 2003, were deleterious to the image and integrity of the University and surrounding community. Track: The meeting of the Student Senate began with a declaration of solidarity against student rioting. These student leaders plan to circulate the declaration for other students to sign. Richard Ager: The declaration and two other student resolutions clearly assigned blame for the riot on the actions of other students. But one of the resolutions also warned against the use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies. Dave Smith/ member - UNH Student Senate: They were talking about encouraging law enforcement to use any means necessary. Track: Some student senators say they are concerned about comments made at a Durham town council meeting last week by Councillor John Kraus. John Kraus/ Member, Durham Town Council: "One of the ultimate strategies would be to declare martial law and bring the state riot forces in…. Track: Kraus says his comments were not proposals, but simply part of a debate over whether to go into a non-public discussion on how to control or prevent future riots. Councilor John Kraus: One example, should the fire dept. use fire hoses in a situation with a crowd such as we had on Thursday night. There may be many things to be said in favor of that, there may be issues opposed to that. It is perhaps not appropriate to have that discussion in a public session. Meghan McPherson/ Member UNH Student Senate: We are expressing our sincere apology- We tried everything in our power to keep students on campus - to no avail. Track: The student Senate delivered an apology at the Durham Council meeting, but the senators expressed their fears that things could get worse. Bednark: The way I see it, if we start getting a lot more excessive force, it's only going to exagerrate the problem UNH Student: In a lot of riots, especially with people dispersing, they fall, get trampled on, there's bottles being thrown all over the place. So if the police are talking about using more force, that increases the chances of accidents happening. All those in favor of Senate resolution…say Aye. Track: The students voted unanimously for the resolution against excessive force, although town officials have stated they did not have enough force on hand. Todd Selig/ Durham Town Manager: If we had more police we would have had enough to take many many people into custody. Now this is one of the misunderstandings that is out there in the public, that its just a few bad apples that is spoiling it for everyone. The events that we witnessed were certainly not just a few bad apples, this was 2500 to 3000 young people primarily students on this occasion from the University coming down to cause destruction and mayhem on our streets. Now granted not all of them were causing that destruction, but many hundred were. And so it is absolutely inaccurate to say that just a handful who were causing the problem. And for those who weren't actively throwing the bottles, they were standing on the sidelines cheering those who were. And so it was a very unfortunate event, it was a sad commentary for the community and for the university. Track: The university suspended another student last week along with the six who were arrested during the riot. In addition, the men's hockey team benched 8 players after learning they had been present at the riot. That inspired the second Senate resolution. Cat Clarke/ Student Vice President: Therefore, be it resolved by the Student Senate of the UNH to denounce any member of an athletic team or student organization that participates in conduct unbecoming of a UNH student. Track: Student leaders point to efforts such as the national summit held in September as proof they are working hard on solutions. But they caution a problem that took time to develop will take time to resolve. Chris Kean/ Student President: This is not going to be solved overnight. This is going to be a process that requires a lot of brainstorming, a lot of dialogue among all students at UNH, administrators, police, townfolk, everyone. And I think that conversation needs to continue. I'm a strong believer that we can solve this problem on our own as a community and we don't need to bring in riot squads and use excessive force to deal with it. Track: For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| Tag Resolution Return to index of stories... |
In a statement released Sunday, UNH President Ann Weaver Hart said the UNH adminstration will work with Durham and UNH police, student leaders and Durham town officials to prevent future disturbances from damaging the community. This weekend is Halloween. Preparations are underway to keep the student celebrations under control. |
| Intro Tuberculosis Return to index of stories... |
What do you think the leading cause of death for women in the world is? The second leading cause of death overall? It's not AIDS. heart disease. or even cancer. It's tuberculosis. This respiratory disease was all but wiped in the U.S. by the 1980's. But it's a health concern once again, because of new immigrants, and because the disease itself is becoming more difficult to treat. And there's also a concern that turberculosis could be used for bio-terrorism. New Hampshire is meeting the threat right now. Our Chip Neal talked with the state chief of disease control to find out how. |
| Tuberculosis Return to index of stories... |
Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs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hip Neal: WHAT WERE THE INDICATORS THAT SIGNALED THE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF TUBERCULOSIS CASES THAT YOU HAVE NOW. Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs: WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS MORE OR LESS THE SAME STANDARD AMOUNT OF CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS AROUND 20. NATIONWIDE IS DECREASING. NOW WE HAVE 15, 16,000 CASES PER YEAR, DOWN FROM 25,000 THAT WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO. WE ACTUALLY AS A NATION HAVE AN OUTBREAK OF TUBERCULOSIS THAT CAME AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE H.I.V. OUTBREAK. THE PERSON LOSES HIS OR HER DEFENSES AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK AND THEN THEY ARE EASY VICTIMS FOR DIFFERENT INFECTIONS AND TUBERCULOSIS IS RIGHT THERE. IN THE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTS THAT SOME PEOPLE GOES AROUND IT'S EASY TO CATCH. THEN THEY WILL DEVELOP THE DISEASE. ACTUALLY, TUBERCULOSIS AS AN INDIVIDUAL DISEASE IS THE FIRST KILLER IN THE WORLD. IT'S A DISEASE THAT KILLS MORE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. SEVERAL OF THOSE PATIENTS WHO ARE DYING ARE H.I.V. INFECTED. SEVERAL PEOPLE IS MOVING AROUND THE WORLD ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRATION AND SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INFECTED WITH TUBERCULOSIS MAY BE MOVE TO GO THE STATES. IN FACT, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE OUR CASELOAD OUT OF 20 CASES THAT WE HAVE IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS 75%, 80% OF THEM ARE FOREIGN BORN. Chip Neal: SO THAT MEANS THERE ARE DIFFERENT STRAINS OF TUBERCULOSIS. Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs: YES. THERE ARE DIFFERENT STRAINS. THERE ARE STRAINS THAT ARE MORE AGGRESSIVE. AND JUST UP TO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE REALLY HAD NEW LABS THAT WERE ABLE TO TELL US IF THE INFECTION THAT THIS PERSON WAS AN INFECTION THAT THE OTHER PERSON HAD. THAT'S QUITE CRITICAL BUS TUBERCULOSIS IS ONE OF THOSE DISEASES THAT IS NOT A MEDICAL PROBLEM. IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM. AND WE WANT TO STRESS THE MESSAGE THAT TUBERCULOSIS BECAUSE THE DIFFERENT IN THE STRAINS AND THE COMPLICATED TREATMENT AND PROFILE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS HAS TO BE REPORTED TO US, THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS WITH THE PHYSICIANS AND WE CAN HELP THEM THROUGH THE DIAGNOSIS, THROUGH CHOOSING THE TREATMENT AND WE PROVIDE OVERSIGHT FOR THAT TREATMENT, SOMETHING THAT WE ALL DIRECT THERAPY WHERE WE SEE THE PATIENT TAKING THE ANTIBIOTICS THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE AND THIS DISEASE NEEDS TO BE TREATED BETWEEN SIX AND NINE MONTHS IN THE BEST CASES. WE HAVE PATIENTS THAT NEED TO TAKE THESE FOUR MEDICATIONS FOR A YEAR OR EVEN LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS PARTICULAR DISEASE A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. Chip Neal: BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE TREATED FOR SO LONG. Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs:IT HAS TO BE TREATED FOR SO LONG, HAS A HIGH RISK OF TRANSMISSION. Chip Neal: IS IT CONTAGIOUS. Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs: IT IS. THAT'S A BIG ISSUE. A CASE OF TUBERCULOSIS MAY INFECT MORE PEOPLE. AROUND 10% OF THOSE NEW INFECTIONS WILL DEVELOP THE DISEASE AT SOME POINT IN LIFE. SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE ARE DOING THAT HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WE'RE IN THE FRONT LINE OF DEVELOPING THIS APPROACH BASICALLY BECAUSE OUR CASELOAD. WE'RE ATTEMPT TO GO FIND THE CASES WHO ARE NOT DEVELOPING THE DISEASE NOT YET AND TREATING THEM. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS CALLED LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION OR LTBI. WE ARE ATTEMPT TO GO TREAT THOSE PATIENTS BEFORE THEY DEVELOP THE FULL BLOWN DISEASE. NOW THIS TREATMENT AGAIN IS A TREATMENT THAT GOES FOR NINE MONTHS. FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU ARE NOT SUFFERING THE DISEASE YET, IT'S HARD FOR THE PATIENT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO BE TREATED. TREATING THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF PATIENT HAS NOT BEEN TAUGHT IN MEDICAL SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST YEARS BECAUSE IT'S A NEW DEVELOPMENT. NOT EVERY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS FULLY AWARE OF THAT. THEN AGAIN IT IS COMPLICATED TO HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE ANTIBIOTICS FOR NINE MONTHS TO TREAT A DISEASE THAT THEY ARE STILL NOT FEELING THAT THEY HAVE. THEN WE DO A LOT OF EDUCATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THEM IN TREATMENT BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY FEEL SICK. Chip Neal: DO THEY HAVE TO BE BEDRIDDEN OR CAN THEY BE TAKING THESE ANTIBIOTICS AND STILL CARRY ON THEIR LIVES? Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs: THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE DISEASE FULL BLOWN, THEY CAN GO TO WORK. THEY ARE NOT INFECTIOUS,. THE PERSON WHO HAS ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION THE PERSON WHO IS ACTUALLY SICK CAN'T GO ANYWHERE. ACTUALLY WE ORDER FOR THEM ISOLATION. WE KEEP THEM AT HOME OR IN SOME CASES WE KEEP THEM AT THE HOSPITAL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THAT MAY GO FROM TWO WEEKS TO 12 WEEKS, DEPENDING FOR HOW LONG THEY ARE INFECTION. THIS IS A DISEASE THAT WE KNOW CAN TRANSMIT TO OTHERS THROUGH COUGHING. IF THE PERSON WHO COUGHS TUBERCULOSIS COUGHS SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROOM, A CLOSE ROOM, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT PEOPLE MAY GET INFECTED NOT JUST WITH CASUAL CONTACT. THAT'S NOT A RISK. THAT'S NOT A CHANCE. NOBODY SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING TUBERCULOSIS BECAUSE THEY WALK BY SOMEBODY WHO HAS IT. IF THE PERSON WHO HAS CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH A INFECTED PERSON WHO HAS A CHANCE THAT'S A REASON BECAUSE WE TOOK THESE PATIENTS AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. AT A TIME. WE HAVE HAD PATIENTS IN ISOLATION FOR 12 WEEKS, UP TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD SAY OKAY YOU ARE NOT INFECTIOUS. YOU CAN GO BACK ON WITH YOUR LIFE. Chip Neal: SHOULD PEOPLE BE SOMEHOW ROUTINELY TESTED FOR TUBERCULOSIS? Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs: NO, NOT EVERYBODY IS AT RIV OF HAVING TUBERCULOSIS. WE DON'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVELY TESTED FOR TUBERCULOSIS IF THEY DON'T HAVE RISK FACTORS. RISK FACTORS AT THIS POINT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE MOSTLY COMING FROM A COUNTRY WHO HAS A HIGH RATE OF TUBERCULOSIS LIKE MOST OF THOSE IN AFRICA, ASIA OR SOME OF THOSE IN LATIN AMERICA. BEING A CONTACT WITH OTHER TUBERCULOSIS PATIENT NOW TEN YEARS AGO IN THIS COUNTRY, A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, THAT IS ANOTHER RISK FACTOR. BEING HIVL POSITIVE IS A RISK FACTOR. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE H.I.V. POSITIVE PEOPLE IN REGARD TO TUBERCULOSIS BECAUSE WE CAN OFFER THE TREATMENT BEFORE THEY DEVELOP THE DISEASE. AND THAT WILL SAVE THEIR LIVES ACTUALLY. Chip Neal: NOW MOVE TO GO A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF THIS. IS TUBERCULOSIS PLAYING SOME ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM? Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs: YES, ACTUALLY TUBERCULOSIS IS THE MODEL THAT WE ARE USING FOR MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE PLANNING IN BIOTERRORISM BECAUSE TUBERCULOSIS IS INFECTIOUS. THROUGH AIR TRANSMISSION. WHAT WE ARE DOING IN MODELING, HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE THE HOSPITALS AND THESE ISOLATION PRECAUTIONS THAT WE MAY NEED. THE SMALLPOX THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE LAST 50 YEARS HAVE BEEN MODELED IN THE TUBERCULOSIS SITUATION THAT THEY HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH SARS IS BASICALLY BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR TUBERCULOSIS ISOLATION AND INVESTIGATION. THE INVESTIGATION OF CONTACTS IN A MASS MEDIA. IN A MASS CAMPAIGN SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS AFFECTED 20, 50 PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME HOW DO WE INVESTIGATE THOSE CASES? AGAIN WE ARE APPLYING THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE USED SUCCESSFULLY FOR TUBERCULOSIS. THE CONCENTRIC CIRCLES THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE SMALLPOX VACCINATION ARE THE SAME CONCENTRIC CIRCLES THAT WE USE IN EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN WE INVESTIGATE SUSPECT CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS. THIS IS HOW REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE AND IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR KEEPING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE FIRST-LINE RESPONDERS FOR THE SMALLPOX FOR ANTHRAX FOR PLAGUE INVESTIGATIONS. UP AND FEET WITH THEIR TOOLS WORKING AND A GOOD SENSE OF HOW THEY NEED TO PERFORM DOING THOSE THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW. THAT'S PART OF THIS DUAL PURPOSE OF BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM. |
| Literary Awards Return to index of stories... |
Finally, this past Friday, The New Hampshire Writer's Project presented it's 2003 Literary Awards. The Gala Event was held at the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester. Six authors were individually honored for their outstanding literary achievements. During the ceremony, they read excerpts from their work to an attentive audience. At the post-event reception, the writers signed copies of their books and met their readers. |
| Intro Wesley McNair Return to index of stories... |
Before the ceremony, we sat down for with each of these writers to learn a little bit about them and their craft. So tonight, we begin a special series devoted to bringing you these conversations. We start with poet Wesley McNair who was the co-recipient of the Jane Kenyon Award for Outstanding Book of Poetry for his book, "Fire." Producer Barrett Lester asked McNair to discuss his process of discovering topics to write about and finding the time to write about them. |
| Wesley Mcnair Return to index of stories... |
Barrett Lester: WES, YOU HAVE SAID EVERY DAY YOUR WIFE WILL WHISPER INTO YOUR ERA LITTLE THING OR LARGE THING THAT MUST BE DOING BEFORE TURNING TO YOUR POEM. YET WHEN THE POEM IS WRITTEN YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE THINGS WERE. WES, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAD THAT ARE TAKING YOUR FOCUS AWAY FROM YOUR POETRY AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THEM? Wesley McNair: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION ACTUALLY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS. I'M LIVING IN MAINE NOW BUT WHEN I WAS LIVING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY AT MY COLLEGE JOB, I WOULD SOMETIMES TEACH THREE COURSES ON THE ROAD AT DIFFERENT AREA COLLEGES AND THE QUESTION WAS HOW COULD I WRITE POEMS DURING THAT? I HAD TO BECOME VERY, VERY ORGANIZED AND MAKE SURE THAT POETRY WAS ON THE FRONT BURNER. SO I KEPT A MORNING SCHEDULE FAITHFULLY AND LEARNED, I THINK, THE DISCIPLINE OF PUTTING A SORT OF A WALL BETWEEN THE WRITING THAT I HAD TO DO AND THE WORK THAT I HAD TO DO. IT WAS A FIRE WALL EVENTUALLY AND STILL IS. Barrett Lester: CLEARLY YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB ORGANIZING YOUR TIME TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR YOU. Wesley McNair: WELL, IN THE END IT CAME OUT OKAY. Barrett Lester: WES, IN YOUR BOOK "FIRE" THERE'S A POEM CALLED "WHAT THEY ARE." YOU DESCRIBE AND GIANT FLAT BED TRUCK ON A MAIN ROAD. NOW DO YOU FIND THAT YOU SEE A LOT OF THESE SNAPSHOTS FROM LIFE AND USE THEM AS TOPICS FOR YOUR POETRY? Wesley McNair: IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. ACTUALLY THOSE MOMENTS ARE THE VERY SOURCE OF MY POETRY. I NOT ONLY WANT TO KEEP MY AUDIENCE FOR POEMS AS BROAD AS I CAN BUT I WANT TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS I CAN IN MY SUBJECT MATTER SO THAT I'M ALWAYS INVOLVED WITH MATERIALS THAT INVOLVE OTHER PEOPLE. I THINK IT'S A WAY OF BROADENING THE VISION. Barrett Lester: WHAT ARE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES? Wesley McNair: WELL, I'LL WRITE ABOUT ANYTHING I CAN THINK OF. THE ONLY LIMIT IS MY OWN IMAGINATION, BUT. OH, I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT, YOU YOU NOTICE THAT I HAVE SHORT HAIR. I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT MY VANISHING HAIRLINE AND NOW VANISHED HAIRLINE. I LIKE TO WRITE POEMS THAT MAKE PEOPLE THINK, "MY GOD, THAT'S IN A POEM? WHAT'S IT DOING THERE?" I LIKE SUBJECT MATTER THAT IS NOT THOROUGHLY LITERACY AND SO I THINK WHEN YOU READ THIS BOOK "FIRE", THE BOOK IN QUESTION FOR TONIGHT, YOU'LL FIND A WHOLE RANGE OF SUBJECT MATTER THAT ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY FIND IN POETRY. Barrett Lester: CAN YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES. MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO READ US AN EXAMPLE. Wesley McNair: LET ME READ YOU A POEM ABOUT A BELOVED DOG THAT MY WIFE DIANE AND I GOT AT THE POUND WHEN HE WAS HALF GROWN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE OF GUESTING A DOG AT THE POUND WHEN HE WAS HALF GROWN, BUT IF YOU HAVE, YOU'LL KNOW YOU'RE IN FOR SOME SURPRISES, RIGHT? THIS POEM IS TITLED "CHARLES BY ACCIDENT" SO YOU SEE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GETTING MATERIAL FROM THE COMMON EXPERIENCE. HERE'S A POEM ABOUT A POUND DOG. CHARLES BY ACCIDENT. NAMED CHARLIE FOR THE RELAXED COMPANIONSHIP WE EXPECTED, HE BECAME CHARLES FOR HIS BUTLER- LIKE OBEDIENCE. THOUGH HE WENT OFF DUTY THE MORNING MY WIFE WALKED BACK FROM THE MAILBOX WATCHING HIM TOSS WHAT LOOKED LIKE A RED SOCK GLORIOUS INTO THE AIR, SEEING IT WAS ACTUALLY THE CARDINAL SHE HAD BEEN FEEDING ALL WINTER. WHY DID SHE SCREAM LIKE THAT, WAS THE QUESTION HIS WHOLE HORRIFIED BODY SEEMED TO ASK. JUST BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED, BACK SOON AT THE DOOR, BLACK COAT, WHITE COLLAR, ALL READY TO SERVE US. WHO WAS THAT OTHER DOG ANYWAY? WHO, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS THIS ONE? CHOSEN AT THE POUND FOR HIS BREED AND SMALL SIZE, NOW GROWN INTO THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF LARGE DOGS STUCK TOGETHER. IT WASN'T HIS FAULT, OF COURSE, THAT IN THE END HE WASN'T CHARLIE OR EVEN CONSIDERING THE WAY HE BARKED AT GUESTS AND SNIFFED THEM, CHARLES EXACTLY. BESIDES, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN EASY TO BE WHATEVER SORT OF DOG HE WAS. PART RETRIEVER, HE SPENT HIS WINTERS BITING ICE AND SUMMERS DIRT OUT OF HIS TUFTED PAWS. PART COLONELY, ALL HE EVER GOT TO HERD WERE TWO FAUX SHEEP, A WIRE-HAIRED TERRIER THAT BIT HIM BACK AND A CAT THAT TURNED AND RAN UP TREES. AN ACCIDENTAL SHEEP DOG, CHARLES BY ACCIDENT AND OUR DOG ONLY AFTER HE HAD BEEN DISOWNED, HE UNDERSTOOD THAT LIFE IS ALL MISSED CONNECTIONS AND PLAN B. THE REASON WHY PERHAPS NO ONE COULD QUITE PAT HIM OR SAY GOOD BOY ENOUGH. AND WHY SOMETIMES ASLEEP HE MOURNED WORKING HIS LEGS AS IF RUNNING TO A PLACE HE COULD NEVER REACH BEYOND CHARLES OR ANY OTHER WAY WE COULD THINK OF TO CALL HIM." SO THAT WOULD BE CHARLES BY ACCIDENT. Barrett Lester: I LIKE THAT. Wesley McNair: THANK YOU. Barrett Lester: TELL ME, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE FORM OF POETRY THAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE IN THAT FORM? Wesley McNair: YOU KNOW, I DON'T DECIDE ON A FORM TOO EARLY WHEN I'M MAKING A POEM. I NEVER WANT TO LET THE LEFT BRAIN KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT BRAIN IS DOING SO TO SPEAK. SO I HOLD OFF THE WHOLE ISSUE OF FORM FOR A LONG LONG TIME UNTIL I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SORT OF SCRIBBLE NOTES TOWARD A POSSIBLE POEM. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SHOPPING LIST FOR A POEM. SO IT COULD BE LINES FOR A POEM, IMAGES OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER, ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMORY, THINGS OF THAT KIND AND EVENTUALLY I MIGHT FIND MY REAL SUBJECT. RICHARD HUGO SAID THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRIGGERING SUBJECT AND THE ACTUAL SUBJECT THAT YOU END UP WITH. SO THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE, I MANAGE TO FIND MY ACTUAL SUBJECT. THE ACTUAL SUBJECT COMES WITH A FORM. IT'S NOT THAT I IMPOSE A FORM ON IT, BUT AS I'M WORKING THIS LIST OF POSSIBILITIES, EVENTUALLY I'LL COME UP WITH A FEELING FOR A LINE OR A SENTENCE AND WHERE THAT LINE WANTS TO BE BROKEN. AND I LIKE TO HAVE STANDS AS. STANZAS THAT SENTENCES WILL LEAP ACROSS SO THEY DON'T FINISH WITH A STANDS A. AND SO THIS POEM HAS FOUR-LINE STANZAS ASSISTING THE SENTENCE AS IT MOVES ALONG. AND EVENTUALLY THE POEM SORT OF ANNOUNCES WHAT FORM IT WANTS ITSELF FOR ME. YOU KNOW, WHETHER RATHER THAN IMPOSING IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THE INEVITABLE PROCEDURE OF SHAPING THE POEM. Barrett Lester: INTERESTING. IN DOING MY RESEARCH ON YOU, I UNCOVERED THAT YOUR WORK HAS BEEN FEATURE ODD GARRISONDKEILLOR'S WRITERS' ALMANAC. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? Wesley McNair: YOU NEVER KNOW ABOUT GARRISONDKEILLOR. HE JUST PICKS POEMS. I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE BEST READERS OF POEMS IN AMERICA, AS A MATTER OF FACT. I WISH HE WOULD READ ALL MY POEMS AT READINGS. BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU DON'T PLAN FOR. YOU JUST GTS YOU'RE JUST SURPRISED WHEN ONE DAY YOU GET AN EMAIL OR A PHONE CALL AND HE WANTS TO READ A POEM. TOO SO I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW HE PICKS POEMS OUT BUT THE PUBLISHER WILL SEND A BOOK AND EVENTUALLY IF HE LIKES A POEM OR TWO, YOU GET THE CALL. DON'T CALL US, WE'LL CALL YOU. Barrett Lester: WES, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO CALL THE BOOK "FIRE"? Wesley McNair: THERE IS A TITLE POEM IN THIS BOOK AND THIS TITLE POEM HAS TO DO WITH A FAMILY HOUSE THAT BURNS OUT FROM THE INSIDE AFTER THIS FIRE IN THIS FAMILY HOUSE IS ONLY A SHELL STANDING. AND IN THE POEM THE NARRATOR WHO IS AN ALTER EGO FOR MYSELF TURNS UP AT THE HOUSE AND DISCOVERS ITS CONDITION AND SEES HIS MOTHER PAWING THROUGH THINGS THAT SHE WANTS TO TRY TO SALVAGE AND CONDUCTS HIS OWN EXPLORATION OF THE INTERIOR OF THIS HOUSE AND EVENT ALLY COMES TO ASSOCIATE IT WITH VARIOUS KINDS OF FAMILY DESTRUCTION. IT'S A FAMILY THAT'S HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE AND IN ITS BACKGROUND. AND THAT FIRE IN THE HOUSE BECOMES THE METAPHORICALLY CENTER OF THE POEM AND OF THE BOOK REALLY AS I WAS MAKING THE BOOK, I WROTE POEMS THAT HAD FIRE IN THEM. IT BECAME A KIND OF OBSESSION AND SO THOSE POEMS MARCH ALONG UNTIL YOU FINALLY GET THE GREAT BIG CONFLAGRATION AT THE END WITH ALL OF ITS METAPHORICAL MEANINGS. Barrett Lester: WES McNAIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US TODAY. Wesley McNair: THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. |
| Tag Writers' Project Return to index of stories... |
Poet L.R. Berger was the other co-recipient of the Jane Kenyon Award for Outstanding Book of Poetry at the New Hampshire Literary Awards last week. We will talk with her next week. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
For more information on our program and links to our guests and interviews, connect with us on-line at nhptv.org. Join our online discussion and tell us what's on your mind. You can also find streaming video of all our broadcasts. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - On November 2, Canon Gene Robinson will be consecrated as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. It's a consecration that is dividing the Anglican communion around the world. Beth Carroll sits down to talk with the bishop-elect about his faith, the controversy and the future of the Episcopal church. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
We'll see you next time. Thanks for watching. |
| Founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. It's a consecration that's dividing the Anglican community world wide. We'll talk with Gene Robinson about his faith, the controversy and the future of the Episcopal church. Join us tonight at 10:00. |
| key: Crime / Legal Issues / Law Enforcement Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/27/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 4:30 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, University of New Hampshire Students debate how to prevent a student celebration from turning into a riot. New Hampshire's chief of infectious disease describes the new concern about fighting tuberculosis in the state. And later, the first in our series of interviews with winners of the 2003 literary awards. The student senate at the University of New Hampshire has voted to condemn the Red Sox riot on October 16th. By most reports, about 2000 students swarmed into downtown Durham following the Red Sox loss in the baseball playoffs. The crowds set fires, threw bottles and rocks at police, and caused property damage. On Sunday, the student senate debated how to restrain fellow students from becoming a mob. As Richard Ager tells us, the student leaders also asked for restraint on the part of authorities, fearing the use of greater police force could make future disturbances worse. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: James Bednark\Member, UNH Student Senate, Dave Smith\Member, UNH Student Senate, John Kraus\Durham Town Councilor, Todd Selig\Durham Town Manager, Cat Clarke\UNH Student Vice President, Chris Kean\UNH Student President |
| key: Community Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/27/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 4:30 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, University of New Hampshire Students debate how to prevent a student celebration from turning into a riot. New Hampshire's chief of infectious disease describes the new concern about fighting tuberculosis in the state. And later, the first in our series of interviews with winners of the 2003 literary awards. The student senate at the University of New Hampshire has voted to condemn the Red Sox riot on October 16th. By most reports, about 2000 students swarmed into downtown Durham following the Red Sox loss in the baseball playoffs. The crowds set fires, threw bottles and rocks at police, and caused property damage. On Sunday, the student senate debated how to restrain fellow students from becoming a mob. As Richard Ager tells us, the student leaders also asked for restraint on the part of authorities, fearing the use of greater police force could make future disturbances worse. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: James Bednark\Member, UNH Student Senate, Dave Smith\Member, UNH Student Senate, John Kraus\Durham Town Councilor, Todd Selig\Durham Town Manager, Cat Clarke\UNH Student Vice President, Chris Kean\UNH Student President |
| key: Education Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/27/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 4:30 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, University of New Hampshire Students debate how to prevent a student celebration from turning into a riot. New Hampshire's chief of infectious disease describes the new concern about fighting tuberculosis in the state. And later, the first in our series of interviews with winners of the 2003 literary awards. The student senate at the University of New Hampshire has voted to condemn the Red Sox riot on October 16th. By most reports, about 2000 students swarmed into downtown Durham following the Red Sox loss in the baseball playoffs. The crowds set fires, threw bottles and rocks at police, and caused property damage. On Sunday, the student senate debated how to restrain fellow students from becoming a mob. As Richard Ager tells us, the student leaders also asked for restraint on the part of authorities, fearing the use of greater police force could make future disturbances worse. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: James Bednark\Member, UNH Student Senate, Dave Smith\Member, UNH Student Senate, John Kraus\Durham Town Councilor, Todd Selig\Durham Town Manager, Cat Clarke\UNH Student Vice President, Chris Kean\UNH Student President |
| key: Recreation / Leisure / Sports Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/27/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 4:30 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, University of New Hampshire Students debate how to prevent a student celebration from turning into a riot. New Hampshire's chief of infectious disease describes the new concern about fighting tuberculosis in the state. And later, the first in our series of interviews with winners of the 2003 literary awards. The student senate at the University of New Hampshire has voted to condemn the Red Sox riot on October 16th. By most reports, about 2000 students swarmed into downtown Durham following the Red Sox loss in the baseball playoffs. The crowds set fires, threw bottles and rocks at police, and caused property damage. On Sunday, the student senate debated how to restrain fellow students from becoming a mob. As Richard Ager tells us, the student leaders also asked for restraint on the part of authorities, fearing the use of greater police force could make future disturbances worse. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: James Bednark\Member, UNH Student Senate, Dave Smith\Member, UNH Student Senate, John Kraus\Durham Town Councilor, Todd Selig\Durham Town Manager, Cat Clarke\UNH Student Vice President, Chris Kean\UNH Student President |
| key: Health / Healthcare Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/27/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 10:00 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, University of New Hampshire Students debate how to prevent a student celebration from turning into a riot. New Hampshire's chief of infectious disease describes the new concern about fighting tuberculosis in the state. And later, the first in our series of interviews with winners of the 2003 literary awards. What do you think the leading cause of death for women in the world is? The second leading cause of death overall? It's not AIDS. heart disease. or even cancer. It's tuberculosis. This respiratory disease was all but wiped in the U.S. by the 1980's. But it's a health concern once again, because of new immigrants, and because the disease itself is becoming more difficult to treat. And there's also a concern that turberculosis could be used for bio-terrorism. New Hampshire is meeting the threat right now. Our Chip Neal talked with the state chief of disease control to find out how. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Chip Neal NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Jose Montero\Chief of Disease Control, NH Health & Human Svcs |
| key: Culture / Arts Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/27/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 10:00 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, University of New Hampshire Students debate how to prevent a student celebration from turning into a riot. New Hampshire's chief of infectious disease describes the new concern about fighting tuberculosis in the state. And later, the first in our series of interviews with winners of the 2003 literary awards. Before the ceremony, we sat down for with each of these writers to learn a little bit about them and their craft. So tonight, we begin a special series devoted to bringing you these conversations. We start with poet Wesley McNair who was the co-recipient of the Jane Kenyon Award for Outstanding Book of Poetry for his book, "Fire." Producer Barrett Lester asked McNair to discuss his process of discovering topics to write about and finding the time to write about them. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Barrett Lester NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Wesley McNair\Author of "Fire" |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |