Study Break

Drop by the Avant Gardeners’ next event: a study break in the Writing Center in Andrews Library! The session will feature:

• HOT chocolate (with marshmallows)
• SINFUL candy canes
• THRILLING books and company

It’ll be on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 4-5 p.m., the week before exams. Bring a friend or two, and get cozy!

Leslie Wingard Faculty Presentation

Thanks to everyone who came to our last few events, including our Halloween reading in the Oak Grove and our screening of the student-produced “Dracula” musical. For those who saw (and loved) “Dracula”, don’t forget that you can still get copies! Just send Mitch Storar a blank DVD and he’ll make you your very own Gothic-horror musical DVD.

Next up is a faculty presentation, given by one of the newest members of the English department. Assistant Professor Leslie Wingard specializes in African-American literature, black visual art and religion, ethnic studies, and women’s and gender studies. She will be presenting on her own academic work next Thursday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. in Kauke 143. The event also signals the return of tea and scones—don’t miss it!

Blooming Lately

The Avant Garden is back for the 2008-09 school year! If you missed our first few events, don’t worry — there’s many more to come. We’ll keep you posted.

For now, grab your pea coat and gear up for the upcoming celebration of the Deborah P. Hilty Endowment Fund next week. On Thursday, October 23, four writers with Wooster connections will participate in a panel discussion on “Careers in Writing and the Independent Study Experience.” The event is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Lean Lecture Room of Wishart Hall (303 E. University St.) at 11 a.m.

Panel participants include:

• Stephen Donaldson ’68, prolific author of science fiction novels
• Susan Stranahan ’68, Pulitzer-prize winning former editor and staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer
• Jerry Footlick ’56, an emeritus trustee of the College and former senior editor at Newsweek
• Ceil Cleveland, formerly editor of Columbia Magazine and professor of English and writing at New York University.

Professor Larry Stewart will facilitate.

As a bit of background, Professor Hilty was a member of the Department of English from 1964 to 1967 and 1970 to 2003, where nonfictional writing was the hub of her academic interests. She was also Secretary of the College and served on the Board of Trustees from 1976 to 2001. Her Fund is used to support programs beyond the annual departmental budget, particularly those that support the teaching of writing.

The English Department Writing Prizes 2008

2008 Writing Prize Winners

The Donaldson Prize for Fiction
1st: Molly Lehman, “Jamie and Rill”
2nd: John Boucher, “The Coyote and Cam”
3rd: Peter Gernsheimer, “The Empty Room”
Honorable Mention: Hannah LeGris, “En-er-gy. I Could Feel It.”
Honorable Mention: Cara Stoddard, “Knots”

The Donaldson Prize for a Personal Essay
1st: Danny Caine, “Photographing the Wildlife”
2nd: Cara Stoddard, “Looking at Infinity With My Eyes Closed”

The Donaldson Prize for a Critical Essay
1st: Molly Lehman, “Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire and the Role of the Literary Annotation in Reading”

The Vonna Hicks Adrian Prize for Poetry
1st : Molly Lehman, “Family Album Pantoum”
2nd: Danny Caine, “Arse Poetica”
3rd: Mitch Storar, “Parable of Meiosis”
Honorable Mention: Hugh Brown, “God Save Mesabi”

The Vonna Hicks Adrian Prize for a Critical Essay on Poetry
Sarah Gerlach, “Poetical Form: A Vehicle of Meaning”

The Ralph L. Kinsey Poetry Award
Mitch Storar, for all poetry work submitted

The Academy of American Poets Award for Poetry
Mitch Storar, “Dmitri Mendeleev”

PICNIC

The English Department and the Avant Gardeners are proud to present…

The First Annual English Department Picnic

• Food by English Faculty
• Professor Tom Prendergast manning the grill (meat- and vegetarian-style)
• Readings by English Department Writing Prize Winners

Sunday, April 27, 2008 | 4-7 pm | 1131 Quinby Avenue (The Prendergast residence)

A group of English Majors will be meeting at 3:45 in the Kauke Arch to walk over together.  This will alleviate the always already awkward situation of arriving at a party alone.  Also, you’ll be guaranteed not to be the first one there.

Karen Kovacik to Read at COW

Karen Kovacik, author of Beyond the Velvet Curtain and Metropolis Burning, will give a reading of her poetry and Polish translations.   Sponsored by The Department of English, The Artful Dodge, and the Donaldson Fund.

Friday, April 18.  Kauke 244.  4:00 pm.

Distinguished Cleveland Slam Poet to Visit Campus

Michael Salinger will arrive on a storm of words next Wednesday, April 23. A five-time team captain at the National Poetry Slam, as well as a renowned “teaching artitst,” Salinger will showcase both of his specialties at Wooster.

Poetry Performance Master Class with Michael Salinger

April 23rd, 4:00-5:30 pm, Kauke 237: Salinger will help students with reading their work out loud. RSVP required; pick up a form from a professor or take one from the bulletin board across from Kathie Clyde’s office.

Poetry Performance: Michael Salinger and Students

April 23rd, 8:15 pm, Luce Formal Lounge: Salinger will join standout students from his master class in entertaining and enlightening a Wooster audience. Don’t miss this chance to hear a slam master.

Poem of the Week: 4.9.08

Gardener’s note: We’re going to start putting our poem of the week selections on the blog. Enjoy!

Futures in Lilacs

“Tender little Buddha,” she said
Of my least Buddha-like member.
She was probably quoting Allen Ginsberg,
Who was probably paraphrasing Walt Whitman.
After the Civil War, after the death of Lincoln,
That was a good time to own railroad stocks,
But Whitman was in the Library of Congress,
Researching alternative Americas,
Reading up on the curiosities of Hindoo philosophy,
Studying the etchings of stone carvings
Of strange couplings in a book.

She was taking off a blouse,
Almost transparent, the color of a silky tangerine.
From Capitol Hill Walt Whitman must have been able to see
Willows gathering the river haze
In the cooling and still-humid twilight.
He was in love with a trolley conductor
In the summer of—what was it?—1867? 1868?

by Robert Hass.

Robert Hass is a 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner in Poetry for his book Time and Materials, from which this poem was taken.

Lunch Series Back-to-Back Attack!

Why dig into Beall Avenue (like the front end loader on my front lawn) when you can dig into the Avant Garden instead? Our trademark, state-of-the-art lunch series will wrap up the 2008 season with two consecutive events in April. Both events will be in Kauke 143 at 11:00 am.

• Dig into the Avant Garden #5: The Adventures of Professor Shostak: An enlightened chat about the stimulating pursuits of Professor Debra Shostak’s recent leave through Wooster’s renowned faculty leave program. There will be scones. Tuesday, April 8.

• Dig into the Avant Garden #6: Senior I.S. Showcase #3: Martha Dowell, Nate Long, and Allison Hunter will present their recently completed senior IS projects to the delight and fascination of all in attendance. Yes, we will have Tootsie Rolls. Tuesday, April 15.

Apply to be next year’s English Department Assistant

Here is the application for the best job in the world: English Department Assistant. The responsibilities of the department assistant include, but are not limited to:

• Planning Avant Gardeners events
• Maintaining the English Department Bulletin Board
• Assisting the department chair in whatever endeavors she deems fit
• Making the English Department a community

“But why,” you ask, “are you asking me to do this application (and a resume) in the middle of midterm season? Or even spring break!?” Simple: to ensure we hire someone who will be able to find time for departmental endeavors even in the midst of midterm (or I.S.) madness, we’re asking serious applicants to find time to fill out this form.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section or send an email to the current department assistants: Martha Dowell and Danny Caine.

Applications are due to Kathie Clyde in Kauke 213 by Friday, March 28 2008.