The Mirror & The Lamp The Department of English at Western Illinois University Issue 4 Spring 2017 A Letter from the Chair - Contents Issue 4 Spring 2017 A Major that Matters A Letter from the Chair..............................2 By: Mark Mossman way of understanding higher education Managing Editor, Signing Off....................3 itself. We all must understand that a EA Games Internship.................................4 higher educational institution is not simply a job-training center. No, that Deck the Halls with Boughs of Books.......5 is not what higher education is. Higher From Role-Player to Writer........................6 education is not about credentialing, Thesis in 200 Characters or Less................6 acquiring skills sets, or something seemingly “useful,” which, by the way, Recreating Who I am.................................7 is never an appropriate way to under- Judge Not....................................................7 stand any kind of higher learning. Dinner and Conversations.........................8 Higher education is about transfor- Truth in Travel............................................9 mative learning, about developing and articulating critical perspectives An Absurd Pastime...................................10 on our world; it is about exploring Magliocco Lecture....................................11 the meaning and shape of the world, I have been thinking a lot this year Announcements.......................................12 and it is about figuring out a deeper about the courses our students take understanding of our individual and EGO Conference.......................................16 and what they learn when they come communal place in the universe. It is to Western. Fall of the Puddle......................................16 about the big and the important, about Murder, Mystery, and English Majors......17 I have concluded, maybe not surpris- the deeply meaningful things. ingly, that the English major is easily In this context, the intention of the En- Harry Potter Study Abroad.....................14 the most important major option on glish major is to understand both the Proust Questionnaire...............................19 this campus and, indeed, on any col- useful and the good, both the beautiful lege campus. and the just. An English major reads cation, I heard these same persistent This is so because, when you really books, analyzes poems, defines texts, questions. think about it, the intention or purpose writes essays, and in doing so the En- But I was able to hear the more local, of the English major is all-encompass- glish major works on clarity in written immediate, worldly worry behind ing—so much so that I often wonder communication, on taste in cultural them—worries about a job, a career, why anyone would major in anything production, on genius in poetic expres- student loans to be paid, and so on. else. sion, and on truth in representation. Correctly, I dismissed all of these wor- And yet, often I still hear questions Thus in the terms above, an English ries as nonsense and vaguely inappro- like, “What can you do with an English major is at the very center of a higher priate for what I really wanted to do major?” or, “What do you actually education, and so the one single an- with my life. learn as an English major?” swer to both of the questions above is a simple, “everything.” In 1992 I wanted a major that mattered These questions are still asked by because I wanted a life that mattered. parents, friends, and sometimes even What can you do with an English ma- English majors themselves. jor? Everything. Sure, I needed something that gave me the skill sets to make it in the world But this is all wrong. These questions What do you learn as an English ma- (which English does), but I want- come from a basic confusion about jor? Everything. ed something that also gave me the what higher education actually is. In- In terms of value and use, there is no insight and critical acumen to make deed, a critical reading of this circum- major that is more comprehensive and sense of the world and to change the stance tells me that we should not even useful. Period. world for the better. ask, “what is the purpose of the English major?” Incredibly, I graduated from college 25 And like you, I found the English years ago this May. I was an English major. The correct question is, “what is the major. And, as I finished my under- intent of the English major?” And indeed, as this publication itself graduate education in Spring of 1992 indicates, in majoring in English you Shifting the question shifts the entire and quickly began my graduate edu- have found a major that matters. 2 The Mirror &The Lamp Rebecca Gonner, Managing Editor, Signing Off By: Rebecca Gonner Time has this I’ve received opportunities I know couldn’t have happened annoying habit of at other universities, and I have close relationships with constantly mov- my professors. Working for the Writing Center was such ing forward; and a blessing, I couldn’t have asked for better coworkers or a though it techni- more supportive environment. I learned so much in my cally does so at time helping students as a consultant, and I know my own a constant pace, writing practices benefited from the experience. I find the expe- rience of it to be What I believe impacted me the most in my time at West- anything but con- ern is the three years I’ve worked to define, grow, and stant. I’m finally promote The Mirror & the Lamp. I’ve grown from a sopho- finishing my four more, reluctantly accepting a position of authority I wasn’t years at Western sure I was prepared for or deserved, to a senior who feels and I have no idea The Mirror & the Lamp is as much a part of my identity as how time man- my major. I was by no means the perfect manager. There aged to push me are things I know I should’ve handled better. I learned and through them so grew right along with the publication, which was only cre- quickly. It feels like ated the semester before it was handed into my question- just the other day I talked to Dr. Allison after getting my ably capable hands. first paper handed back in ENG 201, and she explained to me that it’s okay to have multiple paragraphs dedicated to Thankfully, I haven’t had to do it all by myself. I’ve had one concept. I’d handed in a four page paper with multiple wonderful staff members supporting me each year and our page-long paragraphs, high school having taught me to adviser Dr. Banash has always been there for any question, keep each point to one paragraph. I was stunned to hear comment, or complaint I had. that this was, in fact, not the case at all. If I had to share advice for those of you who stay behind Now in my final semester with my Bachelors of Arts in from what I’ve learned in my time as a college student, it English within reach, I like to think I’m no longer that doe- would be this: take risks and know it’s ok to be in a little eyed freshman. I’ve learned some things in my time here. over your head. College is a time for learning and growth, Things like there’s no escape from Simpkins 14, so don’t and that’s exactly what happens when you take on challeng- even try. And you never get used to the bathroom stalls. I es you don’t feel prepared for. Your professors and peers can effectively present an argument, analyzing literature is are here to support you, so take that leadership position, practically second nature, and I’ve started to find my voice sign up to present at a conference, volunteer to coordinate in my personal writing. an event. Should you happen to fail at something or find yourself struggling, then reach out. I promise hands will be My time at Western has been nothing short of amazing. waiting to pull you back and lift you up. The Cover Awards and Recognitions for our Amazing Staff Each year, The Mirror & the Lamp features Ellen Poulter, the Academic Advisor for English, has recently been awarded the WIU a cover image from Simpkins Hall, the Advisor of the Year Award! The award is given to one individual per year who has dis- home of the Department of English. played an excellence in advising and has reflected the mission and goals of the Advising This year, our cover image features a sec- Unit at Western Illinois University. Lynne Ward, Staff Clerk in the Department of English tion of the frieze above for 5 years, was selected the west entrance to as the College of Arts and Simpkins. Sciences Civil Service Award winner for 2016. This award The image seems par- recognizes her endear- ticularly appropriate for ing personality, on-going our cover as it features a lamp, book, and sun, commitment to holding us suggesting the enlight- all together, and astounding enment we receive from work ethic. Congratulations reading widely. on a well-deserved award! The Mirror & The Lamp 3 EA Games: The Reality of Getting a Dream Internship pioneered. This meant frequent game By: Haley Helgesen tournaments, free games, and red It was September of last year that I provided me with the resources neces- carpet launch parties when new games was suffering a self-imposed crisis. I sary to uproot my life for a summer in released. We also had a guy who would had suddenly decided that I was in Orlando, and begin a challenging in- come in every Wednesday and make desperate need of an internship for ternship-turn-career with their compa- fresh cookies to hand out to employees the summer if I had any hope of being ny.