Joyce Carol Oates, author of The Falls and personal favorite Where I've Been and Where I'm Going, has drawn some heat from The College of New Jersey.

Her new story, Landfill, is partially based on the life and death of a CNJ student.

The International Herald Tribune reports:

Matt Golden, a college spokesman, said that Oates has the right to write whatever she wants, but the story has nevertheless caused some pain. "There are also people who were close to John and were loved ones who might have a difficult time with the story," he said.

Oates response was a TEENSY bit overboard. She likened her critics to Muslim fundamentalists who issues a fatwa for Salman Rushdie after the publication of his Satanic Verses.

Classy! And I mean, the parallel is really so obvious. I'm surprised no one pointed it out before.