English and Language Department vs. The Congress and Cable News?

"The Death of general Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775" by John Trumbull (1786)

In an article published today in the New York Times, Stanley Fish gives a shout out to philosopher Martha Nussbaum and the endorsement of love, patriotism, empathy and sentimental culture in her new book “Political Emotions: Why Love Matters For Justice,”  Click here to read more.

Cocktails and Chekhov

Portrait of Anton Chekhov (1886) by Isaac Levitan

The New York Times reports:

"A new study found that reading literary fiction leads to better performance on tests of empathy, social perception and emotional intelligence."

Click here to read more.

Thanks for the heads up, Dr. Walling.

The Great Drenching Picnic of 2013

Dr. Murphy: "Thanks to all who came to the picnic! Nearly 50 people! And you're welcome for the rain!

Thanks, Grillmaster Murphy; Thanks, Literati;  Thanks, Pigskins; Thanks to all who contributed food and drinks; And thanks, rain!

Coming attractions:
Improvised Shakespeare on Thursday, September 26th at 7:30 in the Ataloa.

Based on one audience suggestion (a title for a play that has yet to be written) The Improvised Shakespeare creates a fully improvised play in Elizabethan style. Each of the players has brushed up on his “thee’s” “thou’s” to bring you an evening of off-the-cuff comedy using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Any hour could be filled with power struggles, star-crossed lovers, sprites, kings, queens, princesses, sword-play, rhyming couplets, asides, insults, persons in disguise and all that we’ve come to expect from the pen of the Great Bard. The night could reveal a tragedy, comedy, or history. Nothing is planned-out, rehearsed, or written. Each play is completely improvised, so each play is entirely new!

Poetry reading on Tuesday, October 8th at 3:30 in the Chalmers Herman, featuring Megan Thompson, our newest faculty member. Following her reading, there will be an open mic.

The Picnic Approacheth

"Picnic" (1914-1915) by Maurice Prendergast

Hi all,

Literati is hosting the Welcome Back Picnic again. We’ll supply the meat, and we’d like people to bring side dishes.  We’re working with STD on helping with paper supplies and buns.

I’ll leave a sign up in 301 for people to sign up for food, so you’ll know what other people are bringing.

Bring games, too, if you can!

Robin Murphy

English and Languages Annual Recognition Ceremony

The English and Languages Department's Annual Recognition Ceremony was held in the Oklahoma Room at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 30th.

Awards and Scholarships

Daisy Moore Duvall Scholarship:  Kelsey Jackson

Wanita Danley Centennial English Honors Scholarship: Jaime Worden

Margaret (Peggy) Nims Writing Scholarship:  Noelle Hurt

Young Family Scholarship:  Jessie Randall

Reed Loving Watt Scholarship:  Felicia Doyle

Geraldine Burns Award:  Noelle Hurt

Outstanding Student Teacher:  Cody Stephens

Senior Portfolio Award:  Lindsey Dugan

LeMoine Blake Crabtree Outstanding Student of Russian:  Ashley Cardwell

Gary and Linda Travel and Study in Russia and Ukraine Scholarship: Trevor Spradling and Yin Lai

Paul Hughes Award: Nathan Steinman

Eleanor Waner Dedmon Spanish Scholarship:  Heather Truett (Byng High)

Ozella Waner English Scholarship:  Mary Dixon (Ada High)

Sara Randall Memorial Scholarship:  Macy McDonald

Higgenbotham Scholarship:  Michael Womack

Criswell Memorial Scholarship:  Jaime Worden

ACTR National Post-Secondary Scholar Laureate:  Ashley Cardwell.

Best Essay Awards

Best Essay in a Humanities Course:  Cayla Odom, “Endearingly Deceptive: The Merit of the Unreliable” (Responding to Literature, Dr. Hada)

Best Essay in a Literature Course:  Noelle Hurt, “‘Til Death Do Us Part:  Idealism in All the Pretty Horses” (American Literature since Whitman, Dr. Hada) and Lindsey Dugan, “Examples of the Relationship Between Music and Mortality” (Existential Literature, Dr. McMahon)

Best Creative Writing in a Freshman/Sophomore-Level Course:  Teresa Buretta, “Life Is But a Dream” (Introduction to Creative Writing, Dr. Walling)

Best Essay in a Writing Course:  Noelle Hurt, “What’s a Teacher to Do?” (Composing Theories, Dr. Davis)

Best Essay in a Language Course:  Jaime Worden, “Critical Period, Genie, and Language Learning’” (Introduction to Linguistics, Dr. Benton)

Good times for Dr. Tribbey

Crop from scan of generic Thai calendar of type printed in bulk to be stapled to advertising posters

Dr. Tribbey published 15 poems in April.  For a sampling, visit Truck and Experiential-Experimental Literature.  And look for more to come soon in Di-Verse City Anthology 2013.

Congratulations, Dr. Tribbey!

Sunnie Day

"Miracle of the Newborn Child" (1511) by Titian

Dr. Mark Walling writes:  "Sunnie Smith had her baby. She and Sophia are doing fine."