Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Far Western Call for Papers

Hello Sigma Tau Delta Leaders!

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. This is Sarah Faulkner, Sigma Tau Delta’s Student Representative for the Far Western Region.  It is my responsibility and pleasure to be of any and all assistance to the Far Western chapters, including organizing regional events, preparing publications, and this year, assisting with a  regional conference!

All chapters in the Far Western Region are invited to Pilgrimage West, Sigma Tau Delta’s Far Western Conference hosted by Chapman University in Orange, CA, November 12, 2011.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Call for Papers

Language & Linguistics Student Conference
Saturday, November 12, 2011
University of Central Oklahoma
Edmond, Oklahoma

Conference Date: Saturday, November 12, 2011
Submission Deadline: Monday, September 12, 2011
Acceptance Notification: On or before Monday, September 26, 2011
Registration Deadline: Monday, October 10, 2011

150 Word Abstracts are invited from undergraduate and graduate students for 15-minute presentations including, but not limited to, relationships between and among language, linguistics, and their many applications:

Monday, August 22, 2011

Convention Stories

It takes a village…Beyond Words 2011

Alexandra Reznik
Pi Delta Chapter
Duquesne University
Student Advisor 2011-2012

I was so excited that the Sigma Tau Delta International Conference, Beyond Words 2011, took place in my hometown of Pittsburgh. After growing up in the ‘Burgh, attending undergrad at Chatham University, and deciding to pursue my MA in English Literature at Duquesne University, I am proud to say that I share the same inspirational place as writers August Wilson and Willa Cather. The many communities I have fostered in Pittsburgh have inevitably expanded to an international level with my involvement in Sigma Tau Delta.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Convention Stories

MeKoi Scott
Southern Student Representative
Omicron Psi
Auburn University Montgomery

2011 Convention Experience

The day before my chapter flew to the convention, the manager at the Learning Center, where I tutor, asked me if I was excited about the convention. I told her I was neither excited nor unexcited. Definitely, I was appreciative for the opportunity to attend the event, but, to my mind, I had little to anticipate that would create excitement. I had never been to convention before, so I could not draw upon previous experiences to formulate what would possibly be in store for me. Only vague notions about what a convention offers could I conjure, especially about an English convention. Besides the opportunity to present academic or creative works and meet people who also enjoy literature, what else could the Sigma Tau Delta convention offer? As I found out, it can offer more enriching and motivating experiences that one could anticipate.

As I listened to students present their works during the various sessions and also read their inventive poetry during the bad poetry contest and on open mic night, I was infused with added desire to hone my own craft and to find compelling ways to express my own ideas. Not that my desire lacked before my ears were tickled and stimulated by words that pleased and ideas that provoked, but these words and ideas made my desire the more intense. Now I carry with me this inspiration as I push myself to improve.

In addition to being inspired by other students' works, I was also giddy with the inebriating pleasure of being immersed in literary discussions. One of the members in my chapter told me about an instance he had experienced at the previous convention:  he encountered a conversation weighing the merits of the characters in Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat." When I heard his story, I thought it would be nice to be among a large group of people who knew such topics or, at least, would be genuinely interested in such topics. However, from his story, I could not have anticipated the culminating effect of being in one stimulating discussion after another. It was as if I had stumbled upon a magical place, and once I crossed its threshold, everyone there greeted me with "Welcome! We have been waiting for you."

This sense of community and the added inspiration sent me staggering away from Pittsburgh in a euphoric bliss.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Job Opening, Communications Specialist 4

Boeing Commercial Airplanes is seeking experienced candidates for a Communications Specialist position at its Everett site. This position will create employee-focused communications that highlight how people and teams are contributing to the success of the Commercial Airplanes business unit. The communicator must have strong writing, reporting and story-telling skills, results-driven project management experience and demonstrated ability to work with all levels of an organization. On-camera video experience is preferred.

For more information, go to https://jobs.boeing.com/JobSeeker/JobView?reqcode=11-1016215

Monday, August 8, 2011

Book Jobs

http://www.bookjobs.com/ is a great site for anyone interested in working in the publishing field. For those who do not know much about publishing but are vaguely interested in it, the site provides basic information about the book publishing industry, including commonly used words and terms, department descriptions, and companies. Not only does the site have an organized comprehensive list of publishing internships (this is where I found my last internship with a literary agency in NYC), but for those who have graduated, it allows you to choose specific departments and provides a list of available jobs based on your specifications. Publishing is an evolving and engaging field and in need of talented English majors, so if you are contemplating your career plans, you should definitely explore this website.