First, a taste of the spirit of the remarks:

• We are living in the time of the most significant change in human expression in human history. That's a big statement but I think it is uncontestedly true.... We live now in a world where it is possible for people to communicate instantly and globally through computer technology, and English as the site that excels in human expression and in the study of human culture related to expression should be the place that is at the very cutting edge of education for students in these areas.--Richard E. Miller, video at 1:35 and 2:15.

Then, please view the rest of the short video for specific ideas about how the university and the English department ties into that world. Failing to address the astounding reality of literacy practice today will doom English departments to the back waters of the society, yes? A fuller version of the Writers House story here, where Richard Miller says at 4:40, "To be literate in the 21st century, you have to be able to communicate on the screen."

He continues at 6:15: "With this media, the students can transcend state, national, continental boundaries, and transcend distinction in terms of race, class. We must educate our students to be fluent in the new media so that they can be a force for social change." And the vision rises from there to the end.