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Canton Will Seem Positively Urban
New Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing Emerges from CanyonAfter living for six months in a desolate canyon in Oregon, John Daniel should have no problem adjusting to the small-town atmosphere of Canton as the new Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing. Daniel will be on campus for the 2003-2004 academic year conducting creative nonfiction and nature writing courses. He follows Heather Sellers in the position.
Daniel lived for half a year in solitude, similar to Thoreau at Walden, in a cabin with only a turkey for a neighbor. His resulting book, River of Solitude: A Winter in the Rogue River Canyon, explores his time spent totally removed from human interaction and delves into his relationship with his father and coming of age in the 1960s.
Daniel has lectured at Stanford University and has taught for short stints at other universities, but recently has not sought a permanent teaching position, wanting to devote his time to his writing. According to Assistant Professor of English Bob Cowser, "Daniel will be terrific for the students who have participated in the Adirondack Semester and who are interested in nature writing. He's a mature and principled individual - he hasn't lost any of his Thoreauvian independence, but for right now, he wants nothing more than to teach." Daniel will also be giving a Writers Series reading in the fall.
The Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing chair honors Trustee Emeritus Alfred C. Viebranz '42, a man of eclectic interests who has always been committed to and supportive of creative writing at St. Lawrence. - Jackie Roy '04