Eastern Region Newsletter Spring 2007

Sigma Tau Delta Eastern Region

Special Interest Articles

Out With The Old, In With The New: Meet Your New Student Representatives!

Check Out Who Won Awards At The 2007 Convention From The Meet The New 07-08 SR Ashlee Hazeltine, Eastern SR Eastern Region! Hello all! I’m Ashlee and editing literary comments, suggestions Hazeltine, and I’m magazines as I’m finishing for the fall newsletter or succeeding Keith off this year as the Art even just want to say Leonard as the Eastern Editor of Persona, the hello, please do not Region Student literary and arts magazine hesitate to do so! You Representative. I’ve at Westfield. As you’ll be can reach me at any known Keith for quite able to see through out time at some time now, and as the newsletter, the past [email protected] Student Representative, convention in the Eastern a.edu. Keith did a wonderful job Region’s own city of

and I certainly big shoes Pittsburgh, PA was quite the success, with many of to fill. I’m sad to see Keith Happy reading, good our own walking away with and Janine both go, but luck with all your finals myself and your new ASR awards and scholarships, Individual Highlights and have a fantastic as well as an outstanding Donald are both sure we summer! Meet The New 07-08 ASR 2 will do a great job this chapter and outstanding year and we are both regional sponsor awards! Saying Goodbye To The 06-07 excited to get started! You can see the winners of ASR 2 As for a little on myself, I the awards on last page of Local Poets Corner: X.J. will be graduating in this newsletter. With the Kennedy 3 2008 from Westfield State attendance of over 700 College with a major in people I have hopes that Talk About Pittsburgh 3 English/Creative Writing the numbers will be even larger for the 2008 Exuding Fun In Pittsburgh 4 and a minor in both Political Science and convention in Louisville, Trying To Get Published 5 Theatre, hoping to get Kentucky! Speaking of into publishing once Kentucky, the idea of a Saying Goodbye To The 06-07 graduating. I’m an Poetry Slam has been SR 6 active member of Alpha tossed around between a Get Money From Sigma 7 Eta Sigma, Westfield’s few of the other Student chapter, as well as Reps, so I will keep you Regent Greetings 8 serving as the Alumni posted! I look forward to Eastern Region Award Winners Relations Correspondent meeting you all at the next 2007 10 for the chapter. I’ve also convention, and if you had my fair share of have any questions, experience of publishing

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Donald Dilliplane, Eastern Meet The New 07-08 ASR! ASR

I am sorry to see Janine As I’m sure those of you be on the Eastern go since she was such who listened to my Region. Ashlee and I a good ASR, but I am speech and voted keep in touch happy to be following could tell, I’m very constantly through in strong footsteps of nervous when standing email, tossing around people who worked in front of people to tell ideas and information. hard for STD and the them how great I am. I would gladly like to Eastern Region. As Still, I’m happy that you hear feed back from Janine goes, I know I could see through the everyone at my have a big role to fill, palpable fog of alternative email but I will keep in touch nervousness and address: with her for help as understand how excited [email protected] well, and I look forward I am to represent you! m. “If I read a book to working hard for As ASR, I’m hoping to and it makes my you, the exciting work with the SR Ashlee, Eastern Region of whole body so cold a fun-loving person, to Sigma Tau Delta. no fire can ever make sure that you are

warm me, I know My friend, the old ASR represented well, have

that is poetry.” Janine, pushed me to fun, and are happy to run for office. I wasn’t not only be members of really against running, Sigma Tau Delta, but - Emily Dickinson but I was so nervous that you are happy to Saying Goodbye To The 2006-2007 ASR Janine Surmick, 06-07 Eastern ASR

Saying goodbye is hard. say work… and in it all I It’s bittersweet. It brings am caught up in newsletter I was asked to with it the conclusion of nostalgia, looking around do a week ago by both

one chapter of one’s life my campus at friends Don and Ashlee, is never and the beginning of a and professors and a finale, but more of a new one complete with thinking to myself, “I hello to unknown mystery and the can’t believe this is the adventures and friends. unexpected. The end of end.” So, as I part with college the semester always and maybe the Eastern And saying goodbye to brings about this sense of Region for sometime, I the Eastern Region as I the unknown in the put my trust and exit my position as shade and shadow of confidence in being able Associate Student goodbyes. For me, this to say, “Goodbye,” and Representative to be semester I had to say mean, “I’ll be seeing you replaced by a friend and goodbye to my college again.” fellow classmate of mine, and shout, “HELLO!” to Donald, is also a the real world. Roads bittersweet goodbye. and paths I never dreamt of were opened Goodbye, I seem to find to me – graduate school, myself rediscovering as I a year of service, dare I quickly write this for the

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Local Poets Corner: X.J. Kennedy Ashlee Hazeltine, Eastern SR

As a part to the Cross Ties, winner of the An exceptional poet who newsletter, we have 1985 Los Angeles Times isn’t afraid to write about what interests him, X.J. decided to showcase Book Prize. While Kennedy Kennedy is one of those local poets from the is accomplished in the poets whose poems will Eastern region. This written word, his poetry leave a mark for years to newsletter’s poet is X.J. readings are fueled with come. If you haven’t read

it already, be sure to pick Kennedy, who is also a stories and even the up The Lords of Misrule at a Sigma Tau Delta Honor occasional song, as bookstore near you. Member. Born in Dover, Kennedy has been known New Jersey and currently to break out into Duke living in Lexington, Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean A Massachusetts, Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Kennedy’s most recent Swing)” to explain his collection of poems particular writing style. spanning from 1992 to 2001 is called The Lords The Lords of Misrule is of Misrule, and is a Kennedy’s seventh volume fantastic showcase of his of poetry and showcases his wit, personality and metered style. Yep, that’s right, everything curiosity towards the craft. Close Call Kennedy writes is The subjects of the poems perfectly metered, a feat are varied from Allen How suddenly she roused my ardor, That woman with wide-open car door that not too many are Ginsberg to post 9/11, to Who, with a certain languid Sapphic Egypt. The book takes it’s capable of. Grace into brisk rush-hour traffic title from medieval Stepped casually. I tromped the break. X.J. Kennedy has six Christmas celebrations that Her lips shaped softly, “My mistake.” previously published were always presided over Then for a moment as I glided collections, including by someone appointed as By, our glances coincided And I drove off, whole rib cage filled Nude Descending a the Lord of Misrule, With joy at having not quite killed. Staircase, which was the something that can be winner of the 1961 related to Kennedy’s Academy of American poetry; the frenzy of the Poets Lamont Prize, and poems and Kennedy’s

Talk About Pittsburgh 2007 & Meet Sigma Members!

Want to know a great Board at upcoming convention. thread and join in on way to keep in touch http://www.english.org/c In talking to other SRs the discussion! AND meet other people gi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi! and ASRs, an idea of a from different regions? Poetry Slam competition Well besides going to It’s a forum for every has come up, and we

the annual conference, member of Sigma Tau want to know what you Delta to join, and right you can always talk with think of the idea! You other Sigma Tau Delta now there is a post can go to the Bulletin members at the Bulletin started about the Board to view the

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Exuding Fun In Pittsburgh Ania Saj, Alpha Eta Sigma, Westfield State College

On March 28th, ten Jenna Putnam, and both seeing how vast Westfield State Jacklyn Hart. Those and far-reaching Sigma College Sigma Tau presenting critical Tau Delta chapters are, Delta members, along papers were looking around the room with our chapter Samantha Boulay, filled with lovers of sponsor Glen Brewster, Robert Hoey, Shawna English, and also packed into a college Meehan, Julie Oliver, witnessing Westfield van and drove south Ania Saj, and Travis State College’s sponsor, for countless hours Searles. The literature Glen Brewster, full of with many pit stops being written about pride at being named along the way. We was varied across the Eastern Region’s Outstanding Sponsor. arrived to meet with genres and focus, as “The man who the eleventh member were the critical of our chapter, Keith papers being During our stay in the does not read Leonard, and were presented, and, of city, we also played the good books has prepared to greet course, the same role of tourists, exploring no advantage WSC Professor Beth goes for the creative the city during the day over the man who Starr after her not work that was crafted and at night. After quite as long plane by WSC students. walking across one of can't read them.” trip. The theme of this Most people would the many bridges found year’s conference, agree that hearing in Pittsburgh, we - Mark Twain confluence, was critical papers written explored the Andy clearly being well about a text which Warhol museum, which represented at the one is familiar with is proved to be a Pittsburgh Hilton from more attention- worthwhile experience. March 29th to 31st, grabbing, and His art is as unique as his with numerous keeping, than one life was, following a true chapters from coast to that is unfamiliar to “rags-to-riches” story, coast coming the listener, but I was and the most together. Because it surprised to hear a memorable displays, in was my first handful of papers my opinion, were the conference, I was about literature punching bags with probably more unfamiliar to me that Jesus’ face silk-screened surprised than the actually sparked my onto them with words veteran conference interest in the text like “judge” scrawled attendees to see so being written about. across, and the many fellow English interactive display that majors from across the The night of bad one could experience continent gathered poetry and dry t-shirts called “silver clouds” together in one place. provided us English which consisted of silver majors with a wealth balloons being blown First and foremost, I of laughs at others’ about by multiple fans must brief readers on intended expenses. situated at different the academic That same evening, angles in a room highlights. Featured Ashlee Hazeltine’s painted bright white. speakers at the speech for Eastern (Continued on page 7) conference were Region rep effectively David Rakoff, Jim showcased her ability Daniels, and Sharon to “exude fun,” which Olds. The students landed her in the from Westfield State desired position. The reading their original culmination of the creative work conference, the included Keith awards banquet, was Leonard, Julie Oliver, a memorable night,

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Trying To Get Published Donald Dilliplane, Eastern ASR

English majors and career advice, and literary agents. even just writers in contracts, and general are often practices. If you ever Publications in going to wonder how do look for a literary academic journals are to get something agent, beware of research and papers on published. The closer scam agents. specific topics that are each student gets to Important things to to be peer reviewed. graduation, the more note are that a Often articles in these anxiety takes a hold legitimate agent will journals aren’t really and the fear of never not demand any meant or aimed at large really understanding other fees than the audiences, rather, they are aimed at a small, where or how to look. cut, nothing like “Books let us into reading fees or put specific group of people Originally, you would clients’ works in a who research in the field their souls and lay have to hire a literary vanity press or subsidy themselves, looking for open to us the agent to submit press. original work and secrets of our manuscripts to discovery to help them own.” publishing companies. These days, however, in their own research. The difficulty is that a a literary agent is not Most of your professors literary agent can be entirely necessary. are involved in these, - William Hazlitt expensive. They People self-publish, but they do not get paid usually cost ten to there are academic for being published in twenty percent of the journals, and self- them. proceeds for the publishing companies manuscripts that they that require no agent If you’re looking to negotiated into to accept publish poetry or short publication. Most well manuscripts. There stories, you should look known publishing are certain websites, for magazines and other companies do not specifically internet sources that like accept submissions if www.cafepress.com, to publish these things, without an agent. where you can design and you can do this Unfortunately, a cover for a book research easily and on although literary and sell it, among your own. If, however, agents can specialize other things such as you’re looking to publish and represent all sorts design T-shirts. There something larger, you of writing, including are also websites like may be best off getting topical non-fiction, www.authorhouse.co a literary agent to help science fiction, m that help with the you with all the legal children’s books, etc., publishing process, and contract aspects of they are almost none but of course you getting published. Self who represent short have to pay them to publication, however, if stories or poetry. Keep be published. Self- you’re up for it, is in mind, as well, that publishing cuts out probably easier and less only in California are the middle man or complicated, but be there state third party, making it prepared to do your requirements to be an the process less own promotion! agent, where it is the complex but more law they only get a work. Although still 10% cut. not the most popular way to get published, The plus side to finding it is growing in an agent is that he or popularity because of she will know the the distrust and dislike market well and be for mainstream able to help you with publishing companies

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Saying Goodbye To The 2006-2007 SR Keith Leonard, 06-07 Eastern SR

It’s usually customary will continue to flourish College chapter of for the out-going under its responsible Sigma Tau Delta without Student guidance and whom my wonderful Representative to write growing student experience of Sigma Tau Delta would not have a short departing participation. For any message in the Spring students reading this been possible. newsletter, yet before short letter, let it be doing that I’d like to known that the job of On a last note, USE take a second to give Student ASHLEE. I know that’s a strange thing to read, your new Student Representative (and “How many a man Representative a shout for that matter, but in all seriousness—USE out of sorts to help you Associate Student HER. Her role as Student has dated a new all get acquainted. Representative and Representative is the era in his life from Student Advisor) is a perfect conduit for all the reading of a Ashlee and I are from wholly enjoyable your questions and book.” the same school and concerns. She has plenty experience and have been in should be considered of support to do her job acquaintance for by all those eligible. well, and even without - Henry David some time. Within our Seriously. that support I know she Thoreau school community she would succeed is highly regarded and So now for the stupendously. Sigma Tau very active within our goodbyes. I would like Delta is set-up in such a local chapter of Sigma to say a warm thank way that your Tau Delta. Ashlee you to the members experience should be exudes fun, she is of the national board the best possible. Yet, this personable, and as who do such a enjoyment is contingent you have probably wonderful service for your participation first. So noticed from just the students. I would enjoy the year and I’ll looking at this like to also thank all see you at the Spring newsletter, Ashlee is the other Student convention! also a wiz on the Representatives from computer (she across the State with created the template whom I have had

for this newsletter from (and will have) the

scratch). To put it distinct pleasure of simply, I am confident their friendship. In that Ashlee will do a great vein too I would like to job for the society in thank Student Advisors her tenure as Student Lynzie Biggs and Ryan Representative. Fletcher whom were always counted upon

This last year has been for a helping hand,

an incredible learning and whom, more experience I am not importantly, gave that soon to forget. Seeing help. Lastly, I’d like to first-hand the inner thank Dr. Glen workings of the society Brewster, Dr. Elizabeth has been fascinating Starr (my own chapter and has given me sponsors), as well as complete confidence the Westfield State that Sigma Tau Delta

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Exuding Fun In Pittsburgh (Continued)

(Continued from Page 4) We food came at Primanti local bars introduced were also fortunate enough Brothers, located in us to residents who to catch a view of the city Market Square. I ordered don’t shy away from from above on Mt. a steak salad and was newcomers. Washington, which we asked if I’d like fries with Our five-day stay gave reached using the it, so I replied with a us only sunshine and Monongahela Incline. surprised “yes,” and my temperate weather, salad was brought to me until the day of Aside from the rarities like with a mound of French departure, which was Andy Warhol’s exhibits and fries atop it. This was the “The love of conveniently filled with incredible city views, we also salad version of the learning, the dark rain clouds. found food in unique forms “Pittsburger,” which sequestered nooks, along the way. At a local comes with fries inside, as And all the sweet pizza joint while on Mt. a typical lettuce, tomato, serenity of books.” Washington, Westfield State onion setup would. After College Assistant Professor a long day of salads - Henry Wadsworth Beth Starr ordered a pierogi topped with French fries Longfellow pizza, something I’d never and attention-requiring had outside of Pittsburgh… readings, Pittsburgh yet. My own experience granted its visitors an ordering Pittsburgh’s unique enjoyable nightlife. The

Get Money From Sigma Tau Delta!

Did we grab your deadlines for most of the Edwin L. Stockton, Jr. attention yet? Everyone scholarships is October 30, so Graduate Scholarship knows that money makes by the time the next the world go around, newsletter comes out, you Henry Regnery Endowed and Sigma Tau Delta could be on your way to Scholarship knows this as well! This is winning a scholarship! why you should go to the Sigma Tau Delta There are six scholarships that website at Scholarship http://english.org/scholar you can apply for, all of ships.shtml and check which have more information Sigma Tau Delta Study out all the different on them on the website. But Abroad Scholarships scholarships that you can the scholarships you can apply for! Many of the apply for are as follows: So check out the website scholarships went to and go apply! Who E. Nelson James Junior people from the Eastern knows, you just might get Scholarship region at the 2007 some money to help pay off those college bills! Pittsburgh Convention, so Elva Bell McLin Senior there is no reason why Scholarship that couldn’t be you! The

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Sarah Dangelantonio, Eastern Regent Regent Greetings

Spring has finally taken around campus in department and see up residence in New jeans and a sweat what we could find – England and with the shirt; I’ll bet we can Jerry had checked arrival of sunshine and find him.” ahead and found out the melting of the Prof. Nemerov was on snow, I took a walk up St. Louis had already campus – somewhere. It the hill from my home been a catalyst for was a glorious spring day to the “Old Burying literary connections -- -- early bulbs were Ground” behind the I had accidentally blooming, the sun was Meeting House in stumbled across one shining and we were on Jaffrey Center, NH. I of Tennessee Williams’ a mission. We knew we’d find him – and we visit once or twice a old homes and had “To read a book year to walk between visited Art Hill and the did. He was walking the headstones, look museum in Forest Park across a quad, wearing for the first time is at the epitaphs and (Laura mentions it in a baby blue zip front to make an visit with Willa Cather. The Glass Menagerie) hoodie and tattered acquaintance with Yes, the novelist so and a chance blue jeans. He was kind a new friend; to associated with the opportunity had and generous with his Midwest is buried here, taken me and time – giving us a read it for a in a small town in rural another TA to an chance to say hello, tell second time is to New Hampshire. From interesting meeting him we were up at SLU meet an old one. “ and asking for his 1917 until 1940 she up in Hannibal, signature. (Continued spent the fall months Missouri to talk with - Chinese Saying at the Shattuck Inn in folks at the Twain On Page 9) Jaffrey, and wrote place about an much of My Antonia upcoming here, her gravesite celebration—it was isn’t a surprise to those little bit kitschy what who know her history. with the “Becky Thatcher House” and I freely admit to a the “Tom Sawyer sentimental fondness fence,” but it was for the literary Hannibal. That same pilgrimage, though I year the SLU annual usually go on a whim, library award brought with little planning. My me face to face with first adult pilgrimage Eudora Welty and came in 1984 when I gave me the gift of was in grad school at hearing her read Saint Louis University. “How I Lived at the One of my fellow P.O.” English TA’s came up to me in the cafeteria Jerry and I found and murmured “You another friend and know Howard the three of us set out Nemerov teaches at -- with a short stop at Wash U.” Actually I fabulous “Left Bank didn’t know this and Books” to purchase told him so. He asked copies of Nemerov’s if I wanted to go try to poetry. We knew we find the poet laureate would find Nemerov. and have him sign a Upon arriving on book for us -- Jerry Wash U’s campus, we whispered, “He’s decided to head out supposed to walk towards the English

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(Continued) Sarah Dangelantonio, ER Regent Greetings

(Continued from paper and the tiny, a sense of place is Page 8) Since then, delicate writing desk he connected with a sense I’ve made other used when he wrote of identity, and for pilgrimages. In 1986 I Mosses from an Old someone who loves the traveled U.S. Manse. At Walden Pond written word and Highway #78 across we wandered the respects and admires the

Georgia and woods and walked write, nothing quite Mississippi to visit towards the pond at compares with arriving at William Faulkner’s dusk -- a single man was the pilgrimage home, Rowan Oak. standing in the pond, in destination, at the place.

My arrival (after a waders, fly fishing. No This spring, whether you brief stop in Tupelo to one else was there; the find yourself in Pittsfield, give a nod to Elvis) silence was, truly, Massachusetts (near coincided with the deafening. opening of a new Melville’s Greylock and

bookstore on the As I look back over these Arrowhead) or in Salem, near Hawthorne’s House central Square in travels, I realize that they Oxford (Square all occurred in the spring of the Seven Gables, or -- there must be in Hartford CT, near Books). I visited Twain’s riverboat-esque Rowan Oak – seeing something about Spring Faulkner’s outline for that inspires pilgrimage, mansion, or somewhere pointed out to us most else, take a look around A Fable written on the walls of his study notably by Chaucer: and see what sort of was surreal -- then Whan that Aprill with his literary connections you went looking for his shoures soote/ The can find. Take a walk, grave site. At the droghte of March has read a few lines from a cemetery, there was perced to the roote . . . poem or a novel or a no historical marker Thanne longen folk to Nobel Prize acceptance and after wandered goon on pilgrimages. speech. Soak in the around for quite a Whether it’s the time of history and revel in the while, a gardener year, the need to sense of connection. pointed me in the connect a favorite writer And, if you have a right direction. In to his or her historical chance, email me with

1994 I took a group reality, the thrill of the your favorite local literary of American Lit hunt, whatever, there is pilgrimage so we can students to visit something about visiting share these special Concord, MA so we these places that is places with others whose could go to Author’s necessary. For me, I lives take pleasure from Ridge at Sleepy think it ties in with a such moments. I’ll be Hollow Cemetery belief of Thomas Hardy’s waiting. and Walden Pond. about how a particular [email protected] We made a side trip physical location becomes imbued with to Hawthorne’s “old Manse” --my most something like the lasting memories are essence of the people the tromp l’oil wall who were at that spot –

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2007 Pittsburgh Convention Eastern Region

Award Winners

E.Nelson James Junior Scholarship: Isabel Sparks Presidents Awards Anastasia Wypasek ($2500) Original Fiction Awards - 3rd Place Saint Francis University (Pi Chi) Rick Foster ($75)

Clarion University (Rho Iota) Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarship:

Rianna Lee Sing, Runner-Up ($1000) Elaine W. Hughes Outstanding Coppin State University (Phi Lambda) Sponsor Award

Glen Brewster, Regional Sponsor Regent's Scholarships - Eastern (Plaque) Eastern Region Officers Janine Surmick ($1000) Westfield State College (Alpha Eta Alverna College (Kappa Pi) Sigma) Student Representative

P.C Sommerville Teaching Award Ashlee Hazeltine Outstanding Chapter Award Lori Kemp ($200) Westfield State College Mu Omicron ($350) Alverna College (Kappa Pi) [email protected] University of Scranton

du Scholarly Paper Award - Undergraduate Chapter Website Awards - 2nd Place Cherylynn Silvia ($150) Associate Student University of Scranton (Mu Omicron) Bridgewater State College (Alpha Lota

Representative Mu) Individual Website Awards - 1st Place Donald Dilliplane Joseph Dugan ($150) Alvernia College Scholarship Application Essay Award Cedarville University (Alpha Kappa [email protected] Michael Eaton ($100) Delta) University of Pittsburg, Greensburg

Eastern Regent (Alpha Alpha Delta) Individual Website Awards - 2nd

Sarah Dangelantonio Place Elizabeth Holtze Creative Nonfiction Franklin Pierce University Christine Hartigan ($100) Award (Rectangle Award) [email protected] The College of New Jersey (Alpha Jillian Bateman ($300) Epsilon Alpha) Ithica College (Omega Psi)

Frederic Fadner Critical Essay Award (Rectangle Award) Jenna Dodenhoff ($300) The College of New Jersey (Alpha

Epsilon Alpha)

Herbert L. Hughes Short Story Award (Rectangle Award) Adrianne Jackson-Buckner ($300) SUNY College at Oneonta (Mu Omega)

Website! Judson Q. Owen Award for Best Piece www.english.org Overall (Rectangle Award) Adrianne Jackson-Buckner (Plaque) SUNY College at Oneonta (Mu Omega)