Deborah Appleman, the Hollis L. Caswell Professor of Educational Studies, wrote a commentary piece for Minnesota Public Radio regarding her experience in teaching literature and creative writing at the Stillwater state prison during her sabbatical leave in fall 2009. Her piece was in response to a story MPR covered about the prison starting a program that connects inmates with visitors, in hopes of reducing recidivism. The writings from that class are available in a book edited by Appleman called "From the Inside Out: Letters to Young Men and Other Writings Poetry and Prose from Prison."