Have Something to Say about Savagism and Civilization?

Check out this call for creative writing and poetry (which includes proposals from undergraduates; thanks for heads up, Dr. Murphy!)

Special Panels Creative Writing and Poetry
2011 Savagism and Civilization University of Oklahoma SAGES
Conference Date: Friday October 14, 2011

Two special panels devoted to creative writing are currently accepting author proposals. Proposals should engage poetry and/or fiction as a space for theoretical and/or historical dialogue with the theme of “Savagism and Civilization.” Proposals should include: 1) a short paragraph detailing a brief biography of the author and the ways in which the work engages the conference theme (250 words or less); 2) a writing sample of no more then four poems or five pages of fiction. Fiction writers selected to participate will workshop their short stories in a writing session and later present their work during an open panel. Poets will workshop their poetry, with a focus to revise their work for spoken word performance. Poets will perform their work during and open session for conference participants.

CFP: DEADLINE September 16, 2011.

Details after the break.

Cybersoleil!

Batesville Nights (Arkansas) by Alan Cunningham from Cybersoleil

Click here to check out the inaugural issue of Cybersoleil (editor-at-large: Dr. Ken Hada), a collection of fresh poetry, photography, recipes, and fiction (most of the rest of the editorial staff hails from our sister institution, Cameron University, in Lawton, Oklahoma; hats off to Dr. Had and his Aggie friends!).

Somebody Is Counting You

Dr. Murphy reports that we have 107 enrolled English Majors (99) and Minors (8) at ECU this fall. 36 are first-year students.

There are also currently 107 laureates of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

#107 on that list, the 2010 laureate, is Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa.

One of our 107 recently sent me the following comic strip:

And if you know any English major alumnus who graduated in May of 2010 or before, please ask him or her to complete the alum survey that our Academic Committee is working on. All the alum has to do is click on this link and answer a few questions.This is a vital tool in our assessment process, and it takes less than five minutes. Thanks!

August 25: Working Class Poetry in Oklahoma City

 2011 Oklahoma Laborfest poster art by Carlos Tello.

Help Oklahoma poets celebrate working class Oklahoma – an evening of soil, sweat and soul. Western Heritage Award-winning poet Ken Hada will MC a program featuring some of Oklahoma’s leading poetic voices. Among the featured readers scheduled, Dorothy Alexander’s striking perspectives of rural Oklahoma, Shirley Hall’s clarion voice for social justice, Jason Poudrier’s Purple Heart experiences and Bob Bearden’s labor poems are certain to entertain and inspire.

From 7-9pm at the 46th Star Auditorium, Downtown Library, Oklahoma City.

See: http://oklahomalaborfest.org/ for details, as well as other music and poetry shows on Saturday, August 27.

Picnic: September 6th!

Imagine yourself in the picture below, picnicking on free (!) food with English and Languages Department faculty and students?  You may be able to make it happen on Tuesday, September 6th from 5-7 p.m. Stay tuned for details.

"Picnic" (1876)  by James Tussot (1836-1902)

New Kids on the Block

If you see these folks around campus, please introduce yourself and make them feel welcome. They are the two newest full-time faculty members in the English and Languages department at ECU.

Dr. Yolanda Forero Villegas (on the left) teaches Spanish and French.  Dr. Jason Murray (on the right) teaches English.

Welcome aboard!

Wanna mentor?

Congratulations, Dr. Tribbey!

Hugh Tribbey's ebook Day Book is being reprinted in “wood pulp” form through white sky books. Click here to check it out.