Naropa’s Jack Kerouac School students aim to keep program intact

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Students of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University are historically known for being outspoken.

Now, in the wake of layoffs at Naropa, students and alumni of the Jack Kerouac School are banding together to try to keep the school intact. A protest is being led by an online group called “Save TKS” that has accounts on social networking sites Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter.

Students of the school released a statement through the Save TKS Facebook page Thursday with a list of demands, including that the ideals and values of the Jack Kerouac School are retained, that student participation in decision-making at the school is increased, and that the school’s diversity advocate position — cut in the June 15 layoffs — be reinstated.

Students held a student speakout on the front lawn of the college’s campus, at 2130 Arapahoe Ave., on Friday. Students also met with President Stuart Lord on Friday morning, and another protest is planned for Tuesday.

The university laid off 23 staff members in June and is looking at restructuring plans, according to a letter to students by program co-founder Anne Waldman and Summer Writing Program director Lisa Birman.

Waldman said, though, that a meeting with school officials Thursday left her optimistic.

“We were assured that the Jack Kerouac writing school will have its summer writing program, very much as you’re seeing now,” Waldman said. “We did not know that a few days ago.”

Administrators from Naropa were unavailable for comment late Friday.