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 Lampfeatures 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. Due to weird Orlando rental laws, I (that was my favorite perk). gainfully employed after graduation. ended up living in a hotel for the entire I spent hours frantically filling out summer (the experience merits its own I wish I could say that I was just al- applications for every type of lowed to play the whole summer, internship imaginable. Paid, but the truth is I was so busy unpaid, virtual, abroad. I did working that I didn’t take advan- not discriminate; it seemed like tage of everything available to everywhere I was qualified to in- me. As an intern with EA Games, tern at received my resume. One I was actually employed by EA night while searching for more academy, which was a wholly internships, I stumbled across a different entity to my depart- listing for a paid internship at EA ment. I had specific assignments, Games. I laughed at my odds, but networking requirements, and figured it was worth a shot. I sent projects just for academy that in everything required and felt differed from my job. So not only confident that my resume would was I responsible for my writing go unread amidst a pile of several work, but also all of my intern hundred applications. Months went by, separate article), but I spent a major- academy work. My professional posi- I had not heard back from them. Truth ity of the time on EA’s campus. I was tion was producing technical writing be told, I didn’t think much about the placed at Tiburon Studios, which is the projects in the corporate team, but as application after a couple of weeks. I studio primarily focused on the Mad- a part of my intern academy duties, I took their silence as a sign that I was den franchise. The campus itself was would also assist in dialogue and nar- not meant to work for the company. I what you would expect from a tropical rative writing in studio. It was strange laughed at myself for even applying, paradise: flowers, wildlife, and mas- to be torn between two different what would a video game publishing sive fountains abound. While it was a worlds, but being in EA, where it really company want from an English major? stunning campus, it was also Florida is an environment where science meets in the summer, so you couldn’t really art, it wasn’t as difficult or tedious as it Two days into winter break, I woke be outside for more than 20 minutes sounds. It really was fascinating. from a luxurious night’s rest to an without exceeding heat index warnings email from EA. The message was brief: for heat stroke. I could detail every challenge or suc- “we looked over your application and cess I had while at EA, but that would would like to speak to you further. This is probably where I should be boring. So instead, I am going to Please call us at your earliest conve- mention that working at a video game name the three most important things nience.” I had to scoop my jaw off of company is awesome. We had arcade I learned while there: the floor and scream into my pillow units on every floor, free Starbucks before I felt composed enough to call coffee, video game memorabilia, a lax 1. Networking is the most important them back. Five interviews later, I dress code, and conference rooms that aspect of any internship/job you will received a phone call offering me the were just giant ball pits. Much like the have. It is these connections that will paid twelve-week internship. other technology companies, EA took not only ensure employment, but it pride in having a corporate culture also provides you so many resources in EA took care of everything for me, that matched the creative pursuits they times of need. It was anxiety inducing, 4 The Mirror &The Lamp huge issue when I arrived at Deck the Halls with Tiburon, but nobody cared. Boughs of Books Seriously, want to know how many people asked me where I am getting my degree? Zero. My competition for my position were from UPenn, Georgetown, MIT, and Cor- nell, yet I was the one most qualified for the position. While we at Western may be humble, we are just as capa- ble and marketable as any other college graduate. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. By: Tiffany Dimmick- Grad and Writing Program Secretary and Western Alumna Sometimes I feel detached What the Dickens is that in the hallway?!?! but during my time there, I networked from the experience, like it didn’t happen to me. I guess I am still That was a question on many people’s with the CTO, CFO, CCO, and even minds Monday morning after a well-need- in a state of shock that I was selected, Andrew Wilson, CEO. When I made a ed Thanksgiving break. The answer: on book recommendation to him, it took moved to Florida, worked in a studio, a day no students entered the English him aback. These connections I made was flown to other EA locations, got corridors and no phones rang in my office, were instrumental to my success at five recommendations for hire, and am I ventured up to the Simpkins’ loft where the company, and were integral to my now back in Macomb. All of the suc- overly squeaky doors and dreams of a col- lective library permeate out of the vaulted recommendation for hire. Networking cesses, failures, memories, and traumas architecture and grandiose windows. It is a necessary evil. still have yet to truly seep in. Overall, I consider the experience a triumph. was in that spacious loft among drywall crumbles, empty chairs and desks, and 2. English is a useful degree, and those I learned and experienced so much in such a short amount of time, I am not dusty bookshelves that another dream who say otherwise do not know the unfolded in my head filled with dancing sure how I will replicate such a process full capacity of your education. I was sugar-plums. After a few sneezes and some the only person in the Intern Academy in the future. From here, I don’t know help from my fellow English secretary who had a liberal arts degree, and I what happens, maybe I will end up and the Mary Poppins/MacGyver of the left with the most recommendations. working for EA, and maybe I won’t. English department, Lynne Ward, I got to English teaches you incredibly valu- But the experience will stay with me work. I brushed off the ceiling-high stacks of old books that were merely collecting able skills for work settings. You made and I will carry it to whatever career I decide for myself. In the end, I couldn’t dust, hauled them several times on a tiny a perfectly wise career choice, do not cart down the frightful elevator into a hall- fret. ask for a better internship experience, and I am forever grateful to the talent way begging for happiness that day, and recruits at the EA Intern Academy who made some Christmas cheer, English-style: 3. Nobody cares where you got your a book tree. degree. I thought this was going to be a looked at my shoddy resume and said we should give this girl a call. Not only is this simple ornament and garland-covered book tree filled to the top with dictionaries, encyclopedias, poetry, writing guides, literary reviews, Norton Anthologies of Literature, film textbooks, and that smell of old paperback books we English nerds get high off of, but there are also books our faculty wrote stuck in the boughs to showcase the accomplishments, dedication, and love they have in the field. At the top of the tree is a star being held up by none other than a box of paper clips of course. Inspired even further, I created a Happy Holiday’s banner made from art clippings of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

The Mirror & The Lamp 5 Thesis in 200 Characters From Role-Player to or Less Interview by: Rebecca Gonner Writer Western’s English Department is rich with both undergraduate and graduate students By: Max Keil crafting their theses, as well as accom- plished faculty with their own completed theses. I asked around the English Depart- Not the best, but that’s why I wasn’t ment to see who would send me a simpli- writing fiction.What’s great is that I fied summation of their blood, sweat, and got better! Everyone puts a lot of work tears. Below are the results from professors, into the game, so most groups want undergraduates, graduates, and an under- to play for several hours. As game graduate alumnus. master, each role-playing session was essentially a four-hour exercise for me Dr. Jacque Wilson-Jordan: Edith Wharton in describing a world that didn’t exist. wrote some ghost stories. Reading them teaches us, after all, that people are more Players, like readers, are an inquisitive scary than ghosts. bunch. They ask questions and expect “You’re a writer? When’s your novel com- to be told every minute detail. Game ing out?” Senior Max Keil: They told me I could masters don’t get away with simply make any thesis I wanted, so I made an “Never. I don’t write creatively.” describing the ballroom of a manor, RPG about robots. they have to describe every picturesque “Why not?” carving on the frame of every family Graduate student Kelly Schloss: Roman- portrait, and provide the historical tic and Victorian literature’s Byronic hero- “I prefer efficient language. I don’t waste context of made-up iconography and ine: No, you didn’t misunderstand. Yes, she time with flowery descriptions.” bloodlines. For me it was exceptionally does exist. Now I will prove it. Those have been the reasons I give trying. I was sure I had done a horrible Senior Haley Heglesen: Stories in games for avoiding creative writing, but to job, but when my first session ended all are cool because you play them, we should be honest I avoid it because I’ve never the players wanted to know was: keep doing that. Also I wrote something. been any good at it. That changed a few years ago when I was looking for a “When are we playing next?” Alumnus Justin Kim: America defines new hobby and decided to organize a I love how the hobbies we writers pick itself against evil brown people. To make sure brown people can’t argue otherwise, role-playing game for some friends. up can influence, improve, and expand we exclude, exploit, and exterminate them. our writing. I was only looking for a “What are role-playing games?” fun distraction, but in role-playing Graduate student Klaira Strickland: Of- The rabbit hole runs deep, my friend, games I found an entryway into the tentimes when people like Dungeons and but all you need to know is they’re world of creative writing. Now I spend Dragons, they play Dungeons and Drag- basically Dungeons & Dragons. Most evenings inventing all sorts of back- ons, why is that? require a small group of players and grounds for fictional characters and a single game master. Each player in- worlds, and while I still don’t have a Senior Dakota Carlson: My undergradu- vents a character they want to control, novel coming out, I can confidently tell ate thesis is about how crazy cool cinemat- people: ic violence and modern movie bad guys and the game master describes the like the Joker really are. I do this because fictional world they reside in as well “I am a creative writer.” I’m a madman. as the results of the players’ actions. At its best, these games play out like Graduate student Sheldon Gaskell: an evening of collective storytelling Making sense of the post-modern and the not unlike long-form improvisational absurd in the film Holy Motors and what theater. My first attempt sounded a lot this says about an actor and filmmaker’s like this: identity in current society.

“You enter a cave.” Dr. Neil Baird: Neil and Bradley conduct a bajillion interviews over half a decade to “What do we see?” learn that students experience difficulty writing in the major. “Well it’s a cave… so basically darkness.”

6 The Mirror &The Lamp pack my bags and head off toward a new future. This partic- Recreating ular recreation is a long process, but it is leading to a whole Who I Am new life, and I am very excited about the future. BY: REBECCA GRAHAM Judge Not At 30 years old, I am in the middle of a great recreation of BY: Chris Bell my life. Eleven years ago, while working my way through “I think you should burn it.” obtaining my associate’s degree, I fell into a position in This was my first piece of literary medical billing. I liked it well enough and I was good at it; criticism, delivered in the paperback it hardly occurred to me that it wasn’t actually what I want- section of Osco Drug by my disap- ed to be doing with my life. One evening while watching proving grandmother. The afore- Wallstreet: Money Never Sleeps with my husband, we began mentioned criticism was precipi- a conversation that would begin the process of recreat- tated by my wanting to buy a book: ing my life. My husband asked me that classic question: cheap, pulp-fiction thriller ignominiously entitledBride of Satan. What would you do if money was no object? I responded Although my grandmother wasn’t referring to burning the book immediately: I would open a bookstore. What could be she currently held in her hands, she was referring to the novel-in- progress she had found in my bedroom that I had feverishly been better than spending my days around books? Buying them, hammering out on my electric typewriter for nights on end. As selling them, recommending them, talking about them – it a teen-age freshman, living with my grandparents in their rural sounded heavenly. This, of course, is a huge risk in real life, home, I didn’t have many choices to occupy my free time. I spent it considering the profitability of bookstores in the current reading Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and any other horror/fanta- market, not to mention your livelihood depends on authors sy I could get my hands on. I’ve always had an overactive imagina- writing good books that people want to buy, and that is tion which fueled my creative desire to write. This is the one thing completely out of your control. My husband suggested that I’ve been certain of since I was that gawky, teenage boy standing I could be a librarian, then I could have all the joy of the in the aisle of Osco Drug suddenly having my reading choices bookstore without any of the financial risks. brought under such close scrutiny. This idea percolated in my mind over the subsequent The story I was working on was about a teenage serial killer whose method of dispatching his luckless victims was via a rail road months; each time I felt trapped at my desk doing a job that spike. It probably wasn’t the greatest “bad horror” fiction ever left me feeling unfulfilled and frustrated, I would hear my penned, but certainly deserving of a better fate than the burn pile. husband’s voice suggesting I should be a librarian. I spent What my grandmother failed to realize was that my story was my free moments during those months researching what fiction and that I harbored no personal intentions of ever harming librarians actually did, the education requirements and job anyone. Judging a writer personally for what they have written is prospects. I quickly found that there was a lot more to it unfair. It is grossly unjust to paint a portrait of a person having than making book recommendations; librarians run com- no personal knowledge of them except through words they have munity programs, help with research projects, and teach written. This sentiment was espoused numerous times in the first a whole range of skills. There was one quote in particular creative writing class I took at Western. The work presented to that really sealed my fate: the reader is what should be of utmost importance and not the writer. For me to judge a writer based on what I have read is to To be a librarian is not to be neutral, or passive, or wait- take away from the story itself. Perusing every sentence looking ing for a question. It is to be a radical positive change for clues into the writer’s psyche and spending valuable time trying agent within your com- to determine whether or not events in the story actually occurred is absurd at best and does a great disservice to the writer, especially munity. in a work of fiction. A lot of fiction does have some element of -R. David Lankes truth ingrained in them, but that doesn’t give the reader the right to make wholesale judgments upon the character of the writer. In Now, here I am, still work- all the creative writing workshops I’ve taken I have never per- ing full-time in that same sonally judged any of my peers. I gave their writing the respect medical billing position, it deserved and critiqued it to the best of my ability. And I have but also working toward never had anyone in those workshops ever pass judgment on me completing my bachelor’s or cast aspersions onto my moral fiber—even though I’m sure it in English, planning my was warranted at times. honor’s thesis, and looking I enjoy reading about the lives of writers and some of my favorite at graduate schools with writers haven’t always been the best people, but that has never MLIS programs. I am, lit- changed the way I’ve viewed their work. Their work and their erally, counting the months words are a testament to hours of sacrifice and isolation to present (20 to go!) until I can leave the reading public the fruits of their labor. Sometimes the stories my office for the final time, are great, other times not so much. But, hey, who am I to judge? The Mirror & The Lamp 7 Dinner And Conversations: Edgar Allan By: Emily Bryce Swain There are two things in this world that can send me one was served, we all found seating in the dining room hurtling back into my emo teenage years: My Chemical to eat our loads of carbs as Dr. Tim Helwig called us all Romance and Edgar Allan Poe. Suffice it to say, upon to attention. walking into the Helwig residence for Dinner and Con- versation night, I was humming the melody to the song Briefly, he explained a biography of Poe’s life, along with “Helena” while serving myself a healthy portion (or two) a few short anecdotes of his experience with reading of mostaccioli. The entire residence was decked out with and learning about Edgar Allan Poe. Following this, Dr. Poe-themed trimmings, from the ravens tucked in every Helwig encouraged the other attendees to share their sto- corner to the lemon-frosted Poe cookies in the entryway, ries about their encounters with the works of Poe. While and I felt transported back to the “misunderstood” age going around the room, the pattern of “I first read ‘The of yore upon entering the dining room. Telltale Heart’ in middle school” began to emerge, which showed not only the popularity of Poe, but also the odd “Dinner and Conversations” is an event held by Sigma fascination with that particular work. I admitted that Tau Delta that I had heard much of from my Writing despite drooling over “Annabel Lee” in my high school Center coworkers over the years. Previously, it was years, my favorite work was “The Black Cat,” which I did held at The Old Bailey House, but this year the Helwigs not read until college. It was interesting to learn about decided to hold the event at their morgue-turned-home everyone’s favorite Poe works, as well as the varying as they felt the setting was more appropriate for Poe’s opinions around the room. In fact, I was surprised to dark nature. The event is exactly what it sounds like—a learn that not everyone who attended was a Poe fanatic, bunch of Sigma Tau Delta members chit-chating over but rather a fan of free food and engaging in intellectual homemade goodies about a particular topic or author. conversation. This year’s topic was Poe—a fan favorite amongst former angsty teens, like myself. In short, my first Dinner and Conversations was overall an interesting experience. I recommend that any new After settling in and eating far more Poe-face cookies member of Sigma Tau Delta attend, even if they are not then what was socially acceptable, I filed into the kitchen familiar with the chosen topic. Not only is the free food with the others to serve myself some pasta and warm fantastic, but the company is even better. thyme-spiced bread. To my relief, there were both meat and vegetarian options for the mostaccioli. After every- 8 The Mirror &The Lamp An English Major Abroad: The Truth in Travel By: Molly Cameron “Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” -Ibn Battuta

As an English major, when thought it would be cool. I the language, but they all study English literature for you make the decision to am constantly surrounded have done it with a purpose. the same reason. study abroad, the obvious by more varied and colorful When I find myself feeling Dr. Di Carmine choice is England. It’s The Book that the birthplace of the Changed my life Modern English lan- By: Jared Worley guage, and it is home What book that changed your to some amazing his- life? torical landmarks like I grew up in Italy so the book that changed my life is an Italian novel Shakespeare’s Globe entitled Una donna (A Woman). Theatre and the resting It was written in 1906 by Sibilla place of professor Aleramo. I remember reading it in J.R.R. Tolkien. As great high school. It had a strong impact as all of that history on me, mostly because this was the sounds, in the months first book I actually read that was written by a woman. leading up to my departure I was a little How would you describe it to upset that I had chosen someone who hasn’t read it? to go to England The book, which is a fictionalized instead of somewhere memoir, depicts the struggling life more exotic. In many of a woman from childhood to adulthood while, at the same time, ways, England is in- describing the striking cultural credibly similar to America; culture than I have ever like a lazy person because I and social differences between the we share a language, we seen in my entire life, and I only know one language, they industrialized North and the rural have similar food, and both never could have prepared always tell me that it doesn’t South of Italy. of our cultures are decided- myself for it. When I sit matter; I already speak the ly first world and western- down and think about all of language that is important. Where/How did you first encoun- ter this book? ized. I was convinced that the international students I don’t recall who mentioned the my time in the UK would that I have met during my The English language, much book to me but I remember getting be almost exactly the same short time at Edge Hill Uni- like America, is a melting pot it at the public library in my as a normal year at WIU, versity, I realize that all of of different cultures and dia- hometown and remember reading and to some degree I felt these students have some- lects. Sometimes it may feel it in one day! When I came to the that because of my major thing in common. They like English-speaking nations United States I bought the book in English and I still have it, at home, I was being cheated out of may be here studying differ- don’t have much of a culture in a section dedicated to Italian the international experience ent things, they may come of our own, but I believe that books! that other students had from different backgrounds, that is because we embrace all during their time abroad. and they may all want to do cultures. English is a language How did the book change you? something different with of diversity, and to study This book did evoke profound After being here for nearly a their lives, but the one thing English is to study history emotions in me as I was reading about the different stages in a month, my world has been that they have in common and traditions from all over woman’s life through a female completely turned upside is the fact that the English the world through literary art. perspective. Later in life, when down. I am now friends language has given them I decided to travel because it I moved to the United States to with people from England, opportunity. Some coun- is an incredible opportunity earn a Master’s degree, I realized Korea, Poland, Greece, tries require students to to see the world and become how influential this book has been Mexico, and even the re- learn English as a second connected to it in a way that as it literally opened my eyes on feminism and helped me better mote land of North Dakota. language at a young age, staying in Illinois would nev- understand the problematic place I have a friend who speaks other students have taken er allow me to. I didn’t know that women have in any patriarchal six languages because she it upon themselves to learn it until now, but I decided to society. The Mirror & The Lamp 9 An Absurd Pastime BY: Jared Worley

When I enrolled the program going into the summer after I graduated. at Western as an Truth be told, those three and a half years were full of ups undergraduate in and downs that, again, I never saw coming. I got married, the fall of 2012, I had a child, I lost a child, lost work, gained work, and I never thought because of it all, my grades suffered a little bit. The grad- I’d be where I am uate program requires a 3.0 GPA for assistantships and I today. Truth be knew that I needed those assistantships to help pay for my told, I didn’t even Master’s degree. I was given the opportunity to take two know if college graduate classes that summer after undergrad in order to was the right establish a 3.0 graduate GPA. I took those classes, did well fit for me; I was enough to establish the required grade point average, and what you would began fall 2016 as a first year graduate student in English. call a knuck- lehead in high Through those two summer classes and the classes I took school. Since the age of three, I always knew I wanted to last fall, I have realized that graduate study is not only join the military like my father before me and his father intense, but also much more focused. Transitioning from before him. Needless to say, going into high school I had undergraduate to graduate hasn’t been easy, but I will say no real clear understanding of what I wanted for my life that it also hasn’t been completely hard either. I’ve found other than to join the military. And that’s what I did. In that if you can stay three steps ahead of the reading, February of my senior year, a mere writing, and work in gener- three months before I graduated, al, you are doing pretty good I enlisted in the United States Air “find what you are passionate for yourself. If you can dive Force. I was on cloud nine; my about and own it. Own your deeper into your study and do dreams were coming true! But if more than just read and write, you have seen any film about how work, immerse yourself into you are putting yourself at an life doesn’t go as we plan it, you can what you are doing, and lose advantage. I think it was Dr. probably guess what happens next. yourself into your passion.” Banash who said to my English That’s right, in August of 2010 I 500 class, “Read deeply, define was honorably discharged from Air what kind of intellectual you Force nine days short of being in a mere two years. I was want to be, define what you believe in, and write your completely devastated, lost even, from the turmoil that own project” and I couldn’t agree more. I wrote this down life threw at me. I came home to Illinois with no plans on a sticky note that I leave taped to the monitor of my whatsoever. computer. It is his wisdom, through me, that I pass on to you. If you feel like graduate study might not be for you, After looking for work, finding work, and working vari- find what you are passionate about and own it. Own your ous odd jobs, I was willing to give school a try, which is work, immerse yourself into what you are doing, and when I applied to Western for the fall of 2012. My first se- lose yourself into your passion. Legendary track coach, mester I was a psychology major as a freshman at almost and co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman, has a quote twenty-three years old. I made the switch to English after about running that I have adapted for my own use and I taking a section of English 180 with Barbara Ashwood. encourage you to do the same: reading and writing, one I’ll speed things up here a bit: three and a half years later, might say, is basically an absurd pastime upon which to I graduated from Western with my B.A. in English. It was be intellectually exhausting ourselves. But if you can find early on in the spring of my senior year at Western when meaning in the kind of reading and writing you have to Dr. Tim Helwig invited me to apply to the Master’s pro- do, chances are you’ll find meaning in that other absurd gram. I knew nothing about it, but I thought it wouldn’t pastime – life. hurt any, so I applied. I was conditionally accepted into

10 The Mirror &The Lamp Huizinga on Lateness: 10th Annual Magliocco Lecture with Dr. Birger Vanwesenbeeck By: Sheldon Gaskell Late winter, connections in their professional work. that as Gaddis bridged Christian Late-Mo- 11:30 am, This year, the WIU community was pro- dernity with the Postmodern, Huizinga Tuesday, vided the unique opportunity of hearing observed a similar trend in artists and March 7th— Dr. Birger Vanwesenbeeck speak on his writers transitioning between the periods the calm, sun- recent scholarship concerning the critical of the Enlightenment and Romanticism. ny morning approach to Late Style with a specific focus Huizinga’s observations, Vanwesenbeeck after torna- on the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga. argued, were a catalyst toward an obsession do sirens with “endings, lateness, and lastness in aca- Dr. Banash began the evening by thank- and harsh, demia,” especially in regard to the canoni- ing Dr. Magliocco, in attendance, for her relenting cal works that seemed to be prioritized on inspirational commitment to literature, the winds beat the basis of how they fit into certain eras. arts, and the academic culture of Western. the Macomb He then introduced Dr. Vanwesenbeeck— “The late work itself obscures the subject’s streets—my fellow graduate student Kelly an Associate Professor of English at State objectivity,” Vanwesenbeeck stated before Schloss and I were entrusted the honor University of New York at Fredonia—high- delving into a discussion of the stylistic of picking up the keynote speaker for the lighting key points in his career from his aspects that defined epics and other genres night’s 10th Annual Magliocco Lecture, current specialty in Twentieth-Century definitive to certain movements. After Dr. Birger Vanwesenbeeck, from his hotel American Literature and Culture, World acknowledging the criticisms of approach- and delivering him to the Mediterranean Literature, and Critical Theory as well ing texts through late style, Vanwesenbeeck Grill where we were to have lunch with Dr. as his interest in postmodern novels by stated that “late style is a critical construct David Banash and a number of graduate William Gaddis and Thomas Pynchon. that serves ideological ends rather than students. I did not know what to expect Among his notable achievements include stakes a claim in reality,” suggesting that from this accomplished scholar, but I was his current standing as Editor for the the method of categorizing texts as “early” confident the experience would leave me “Fictions Present” thread of the Electronic or “late” runs the risk of bowing down to even more electrified than the previous Book Review; Co-editor of William Gaddis, the cultural goals of societies at various night’s storms. The Last of Something; and author of Stefan points in history. Dr. Vanwesenbeeck, sitting patiently in the Zweig and World Literature. Through verbal moments of intense in- hotel lounge, book in hand, struck me at Dr. Vanwesenbeeck took the stage and tellectual prodding and visuals of quotes, once as the humble and ponderous type began his discussion of what is often con- paintings, and book covers from an array of intellectual who wanders a library’s sidered to be the first postmodern novel, of authors and critics, Vanwesenbeeck cobwebbed corridors leading a read to The Recognitions by William Gaddis, which painted a refined excerpt of a field that history’s long-abandoned tomes. He Vanwesenbeeck had researched as a grad- would otherwise bury a person in years introduced himself as Birger (pronounced uate student and was a precursor for his fu- of unperturbed reading. Notable was “Beer-ghur”), extending a hand to each ture pursuits in literary criticism. He then his allusion to artists and authors from of us as he closed his book and gathered lead the audience through a powerpoint many periods and their association with a his materials for the drive into town. Like presentation of the night’s focus, beginning model of lateness as either “a coronation many dedicated professors, Dr. Vanwe- with Huizinga’s foundational text Herfst- of crowning” or “exhaustion and decay.” senbeeck was immediately curious of our tij der Middeleeuwen (The Autumn of the Where Huizinga writes of texts of the Late work as graduate students at Western, es- Middle Ages) that would act as a focal point Middle Ages as “a tree with overripe fruit,” pecially regarding the course of our thesis for his exploration of art and literature other periods of lateness are presented work while enrolled in the program. Our that marks a blurred line between the start as decay, as though tied with an aging shared curiosities would extend through- and end of literary periods. Returning to artist’s fear of death. Vanwesenbeeck then out lunch, where, over hummus, falafel, Gaddis, Vanwesenbeeck illuminated for went on to provide various contexts for and baba ghanouje, we discussed literature the audience a new impressionable reading these approaches to lateness as it relates to and learned more about the histories that of the author as not only the creator of Christian iconography, ekphrastic texts, have shaped each of our experiences with what would come to be known as “the first perceptions of time, and a writer’s identity language. postmodern novel” but a writer attempting at various stages of their life before ending 7:00 that evening—WIU students and to pen “the last Christian novel.” It was this where he began, highlighting the postmod- faculty gathered in anticipation for the simultaneous perception of ending and ern influences that sprouted his scholarly Magliocco Lecture, a series established beginning that inspired Vanwesenbeeck to career. in 2006 by Dr. Maurine Magliocco in question what is last and what is first when “Postmodernists asked about origins,” support of the discussion of literature, film, it comes to the movements that define Vanwesenbeeck paused and looked around theory, or the state of the English discipline literary interpretation. the room of enlightened faces. “Now we’re with, according to Magliocco, the specific Vanwesenbeeck noted with excited hand asking about endings.” purpose of helping faculty to strengthen movements and a precision of language The Mirror & The Lamp 11 2016-2017 Announcements

Award Winning Students Departmental and College Scholar Awards

Each spring, the English Department awards $20,000 in The Departmental Scholar awards are sponsored by the scholarships and fellowships for our graduate and under- Illinois Centennial Honors College. Each semester, de- graduate students. We are pleased to announce the follow- partments select the top student in each of their majors ing students were awarded English scholarships this spring graduating that semester. Students are selected based for the 2016-2017 academic year. on g.p.a. as well as honors and activities. Those selected receive a medallion to be worn at graduation. Our winners Undergraduate Scholarship and Award Winners for this year are Jocelyn James and Rebecca Gonner.

Barbara & John Blackburn Scholarship– Emily Bryce Cecile A. Christison Sterrett Award for Fall 2016 – Rebec- Swain; Paul Blackford Scholarship – Rebecca Graham; ca Graham. Olive Fite Scholarship – Arielle Henry; Irving Garwood Scholarship – Courtney Bender; Robert Hodges Scholar- Martin Dupuis Leadership Award for Historically Under ship – Tess Tyler; Lila Linder Scholarship– Shelby Davin; Represented Communities – Arielle Henry. Karen Mann Award – Emily Bryce Swain; Alfred Lindsey Scholarship – Kristen Dillender; John Merrett Scholarship Announcements – Anna Teggatz; Beth Stiffler Scholarship Tess– Tyler; Nai-Tung Ting Scholarship – Kelsey Renfro-Cline; Nor- Current Undergraduate Students man & Carmelita Teeter Undergraduate Research Award – Emily Bryce Swain and Rachel Troyer. Katelin Deushane presented “Red Marbles” at the Sigma Tau Delta convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Scholar of the Year– Anna Teggatz Rebecca Graham presented "Noah’s 'Nakedness': Nudity, Writing Awards Sodomy or Incest" at the EGO/STD conference in Ma- comb and at the Northwest Research Conference at Pur- Bruce H. Leland Essay Contest: English 100, Introduction due; "Beowulf: Anglo-Saxon and Judeo-Christian Values" to Writing 1st Place, Daniel White; 2nd Place, Margaret at the Sigma Tau Delta convention in Louisville, Kentucky, Voss ; 3rd Place, Andrea Przybylski. English 180, College which also won fourth place in the 2017 Phi Kappa Phi Re- Writing I 1st Place, Apryl Moore; 2nd Place, Faith Buie; search Competition; "Frankenstein: An Autobiographical 3rd Place, Samantha Pryor. English 280, College Writing Fiction" at the Northwest Research Conference at Purdue. II 1st Place, Kelly Crowley; 2nd Place, Lisa Crawford; 3rd She also published "Recreating Who I Am" in Wordy by Place, Adena Ruckoldt. Lois C. Bruner Creative Nonfic- Nature, the Sigma Tau Delta blog, which won third place tion Awards 1st Place, Afolarin Sanni; 2nd Place, Rebecca in the Midwestern Blog Contest. Gonner; 3rd Place, Sarah Radtke. Cordell Larner Award in Fiction 1st Place, Allen Dullen; 2nd Place, Cheyenne Haley Helgesen presented "Harry Potter and the Repre- Rideaux; 3rd Place, Matt Gamperl. Cordell Larner Award sentation of Fatness" at the Sigma Tau Delta convention in in Poetry 1st Place, Allison Hartman; 2nd Place, Rachel Louisville, Kentucky. Troyer; 3rd Place, Natalie Jacobson Arielle Henry was elected to serve as the Sigma Tau Delta Graduate Scholarship, Fellowship, and Award Winners Midwestern Associate Student Representative for 2017- 2018. She received a CAS Undergraduate Research Grant John Mahoney Research Fellowship – Kristen Dillender to travel to the national Sigma Tau Delta convention in and David "Bo" Plumer; Ron & Leslie Walker Graduate Louisville, Kentucky where she presented her paper, "Just Fellowships – Ftsum Asfaha and Kristen Dillender; Syn- Get Over It." dy M. Conger Essay Award – Kelly Schloss; Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award – Sheldon Gaskell. Max Keil received a CAS Undergraduate Research Grant to travel to the national Sigma Tau Delta convention in A CAS Graduate Student Research and Professional Devel- Louisville, Kentucky, where he presented his paper "Lan- opment Fund grant was won by Kristin Dillender. guage and Monsterism in Frankenstein." He received an Honorable Mention in the British Literature category. He also presented his paper at WIU's Undergraduate Research Day. He also published "From Role-Player to Writer" in 12 The Mirror &The Lamp Wordy by Nature, the Sigma Tau Delta blog, which won Alumni first place in the Midwestern Blog Contest. Christopher Bevard (M.A. 2007) Assistant Director for Bryce Swain received a CAS Undergraduate Research Educational Technology at John Marshall Law School, Grant to travel to the national Sigma Tau Delta convention Chicago. in Louisville, Kentucky where she presented her paper, "Jane Eyre and the Quest for Christianity." She also pre- Chelsea Brotherton (M.A. 2016) accepted a position as an sented her paper at WIU's Undergraduate Research Day. assistant editor at the American Health Information Man- agement Association in Chicago. Rachel Troyer received a CAS Undergraduate Research Grant to travel to the national Sigma Tau Delta convention Cody Cunningham (M.A. 2016) accepted a position as a in Louisville, Kentucky where she presented her paper Senior Copywriter at JLL Commercial Real Estate in Chica- "Smoke Signal’s Deeper Meaning." She also presented her go Illinois. paper at WIU's Undergraduate Research Day. Tiffany Dimmick (B.A. 2011) accepted a position as Office Current Graduate Students Support Associate for the Writing and Graduate programs in English at Western. Zachary Almqist is an intern at the office of Congress- woman Cheri Bustos (IL-17). Julie Kaiser (M.A. 2016) was accepted into the PhD pro- gram in English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Sheldon Gaskell presented "Gendered Geographies: where she is currently a teaching assistant. Pakistani Male Water-Becoming in Uzma Aslam Khan's Trespassing" at the Craft, Critique, Culture Interdisciplin- Justin Kim (B.A. 2016) was accepted into the M.A. in En- ary Graduate Conference in Iowa City. He also presented glish at New York University. "The Paradise and Prison Garden: Problematic Natural Systems of Femininity in Atwood's Oryx and Crake," at the Jacob Gamage (B.A. 2005) is an English teacher at Sound- 13th Annual English Graduate Conference. He edited One view Preparatory School in Bedford Hills, NY. Man's Journey Through War and Peace by Mark Jurras, a WWII veteran. He also edited Stephen Ulrich's Esoteric Christopher Ginn (B.A. 2016) is an intern with the Mc- Echoes and a book of poems entitled A Summer of Song by Donough County Voice. the Sarah Clark. Annette Glotfelty (B. A. 2008) was accepted to the Ph.D. Klaira Strickland presented "Fan Subcultures in Dun- program in Cognition and Neuroscience at the University geons & Dragons," an excerpt from her thesis project, at of Texas at Dallas. the Popular Culture Association conference in San Diego. At the English Graduate Organization conference, she Stephanie Hoover (M.A. 2017) accepted a position at Lu- presented "Transnational Inheritance in Kamila Shamsie's theran Services in Iowa (LSI) as a Case Coordinator. Burnt Shadows." She plans to teach English in Japan next fall, and she is connecting with other schools to further her Brooke Hughes (M.A. 2003) teaches everything from research in D&D and Fandom. developmental writing to freshman composition and up- per-division writing at the California State University, Ba- Eliza Wells presented "The Rhetorical Power of the Car- kersfield. She also coordinates a University-wide adopted toon: Discussing Feminism and Gender in The Powerpuff online program for grammar and writing help and oversees Girls (1998)" at the Popular Culture Association confer- the student-run help center on campus for the program. ence in San Diego. She is currently writing a composition textbook that will be published in early 2018 by Fountainhead Press. Laura Winton traveled to the Sigma Tau Delta conference in Louisville to present her a creative nonfiction piece Ethan Knight (B.A. 2013) is a teaching assistant and doc- "Words in My/Her." At Craft, Critique, Culture in Iowa toral candidate at the University of South Carolina, Colum- City, she presented a paper on Women's Transgressive bia. Writing. She won the QC Women's History Month poster contest and the QC Iron Pen Contest for poetry from the Cassidy Litle (M.A. 2014) accepted a full-time faculty Midwest Writing Center Association. She has been hosting position, teaching English, Communication, and Theater the Coin-Op reading series at the Neighborhood Laun- courses at Otero Junior College in La Junta Colorado. dromat in Rock Island. She was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta and Phi Kappa Phi this year. Emily Litle (M.A. 2014) accepted a full-time faculty po- sition, teaching developmental English at Otero Junior College in La Junta Colorado. The Mirror & The Lamp 13 Kristi Relaz (B. A. 2008) accepted a new position as Bridge in the Walt Whitman Quarterly Review. She also published Instructor and Career Coach at North Lawndale Employ- two poems, "Artemesia Gentileschi Painting Judith" and ment in Chicago. "Pulling out the Phials from Joseph Cornell's L'Egypte de Mlle Cleo de Merode: cours elementaire d'Histoire Naturelle Rayvon Shelton (M.A. 2015) accepted a position as a copy- and Examining Each One, Causing Blanks" in The Ek- writer with Apple in San Francisco. phrastic Review (June 2016). Her poem "The Kill Jar" will appear in Plainsongs. She presented "C. D. Wright’s Legacy: Faculty Poetics of Communal Identity" at the 27th Annual Confer- ence on American Literature, held in San Francisco, and Marjorie Allison won the College of Arts and Sciences "Murder Ballads as Story Structure in Sharyn McCrumb’s Award for Multicultural Teaching. Appalachian Crime Fiction" at the American Literature Association's Symposium, Criminal America: Reading, Rebekah Buchanan published "A Punk Pedagogical Ap- Studying, and Teaching American Crime Fiction held in proach to Genre" in Recontextualized: A Framework for Chicago. Teaching English with Music. Sense Publishers, Rotterdam; She reviewed "Merrow by Ananda Braxton-Smith"; "As Tim Helwig presented "“George Lippard and Nathaniel Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust and Thrice the Brinded Hawthorne, Unlikely 'Partners in Crime'" at the ALA Sym- Cat Hath Mew’d by Alan Bradley"; "Dead Girls Society by posium on Crime Fiction in Chicago, and "Teaching Edgar Michelle Krys"; "The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas."; Allan Poe and Periodical Culture to Different Student Pop- "Jillian Cade: (Fake) Paranormal Investigator by Jen Klein." ulations" at the ALA Conference in Boston. He was also "A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry"; "The awarded a Faculty Summer Stipend to conduct research Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass."; "The Leaving by Tara Alte- toward his book project, Writing the Working Class: The brando," all for the 2017 PCA/ACA Mystery & Detective Literary and Rhetorical Discourses of Class Protest in An- Fiction Reading List. She interviewed numerous authors tebellum American Print Culture. In terms of professional for the New Books in Popular Culture Podcast, including service, he served as the Midwestern Regent for Sigma Tau “Mozlandia: Morrissey Fans in the Borderlands by Melissa Delta International English Honor Society, the Treasurer Hidalgo"; "Nerd Ecology: Defending the Earth with Unpop- for the Research Society for American Periodicals, and a ular Culture by Anthony Lioi"; "Brat Pack America: A Love manuscript reviewer for ESQ: A Journal of Nineteenth-Cen- Letter to 80s Teen Movies by Kevin Smokler"; "Just Around tury American Literature and Culture. Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination by Jack Hamilton"; "The Politics of Punk: Protest and Revolt From Bill Knox presented "Planning and Teaching a Future-ori- the Streets by David Ensminger"; "Seinfeldia: How a Show ented Sustainability Honors Course" at the Upper Midwest About Nothing Changed Everything by Jennifer Keishin Regional Honors Council Conference at South Dakota Armstrong." She also contributed many radio commentar- State University. ies to TriStates Public Radio throughout the year. Barb Lawhorn published fiction including: "For Now, Merrill Cole published poems including "This Fabulous For The Time Being,"Helen: A Literary Magazine; "Holy Shadow," Women’s Studies Quarterly; "Johnny in Lights," Like That."FemLit ; "An Eye For Seeing." Nebo: A Literary Spoon River Poetry Review 42.1; "The Hip Poet,"Spoon Riv- Journal; "Toward the Future." Toad the Journal; "Every- er Poetry Review 42.1; "Defense Mechanism." Spoon River body Knowing, But Pretending Not To." The Longleaf Poetry Review 42.1; "Dirty Bits" concīs (Winter 2016); and Pine. "Cosmos." The Fabulist; and "Easing Pain" in BLYN- "Warm Brother." HIV Here & Now (20 November 2016). KT Magazine. She published nonfiction, including "'On His non-fiction essay "The Blond Sheep," appeared inMay - Writing, Rejection, and Janis Joplin.' Bird's Thumb"; "Wool day Magazine 10 (Fall 2016). Gathering" Dirty Chai.; and "Migration" in FemLit. She published poetry, including "Pears." Naugatuck River; Everett Hamner published "Faith, Science, and Social "Laundry." Fox Adoption Magazine and "Blood Demands" Justice in Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead Triptych" in CRUX FemLit. She reviewed books for The Mom Egg Review, 52.3-4 (Fall/Winter 2016): 69-78. He also presented a pub- including Joelle Biele’s Broom; Jennifer Karetnick's The lic lecture, "The Soul, the Cell, and Fiction since the Human Treasures That Prevail; Samantha Duncan's The Birth Genome Project," at Regent College, Vancouver, BC. He Creatures; and Susan Rukeyser's Not On Fire, Only Dying. was the session organizer and moderator for "Orphan Black She also contributed many radio commentaries to TriStates and Biotech" roundtable, including "Orphan Black and Public Radio throughout the year. the Slippage of Biotechologies" presentation, at Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts, Atlanta. Dan Malachuk published Two Cities: The Political Thought of American Transcendentalism, University Press of Kansas Magdelyn Helwig published "Schultz, Robert and Binh Press; "Disinterestedness and Liberalism" in L. Behlman Danh. War Memoranda: Photography, Walt Whitman, and A. Longmuir, eds., Victorian Literature: Criticism and and Renewal (Poetry and Visual Art Exhibition) [review]" Debates, Routledge. He presented "Transcendentalism, 14 The Mirror &The Lamp Orestes Brownson, and Public Religion" at the American Disability and Mental Illness." With students Maggie Wal- Literature Association, San Francisco. He served as a re- lace, & Xiaowei Nu she presented "Connecting to Home viewer on the American Literature Peer Review Committee through Artifactual Literacies Projects," a panel for the for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, and he was inter- annual conference of Illinois Association of Teachers of viewed for the filmThoreau: Surveyor of the Soul. English (IATE), Bloomington-Normal, IL, where she also presented "Close to Our Hearts: 20 New Authors who En- Mark Mossman published "Academic Capitalism, Stu- gage Students in Reading" with student Cynthia Karabush. dent Needs, and the English MA" in Degree of Change: The MA in English Studies, eds. Margaret Strain and Rebecca Erika Wurth secured contracts to publish two books: a Potter, NCTE Press, 2016. His essay "Atypical Bodies in poetry collection entited A Thousand Horses Out to Sea Nineteenth-Century Britain" is forthcoming in The Cul- with Mongrel Empire Press and Buckskin Cocaine, a short tural History of Disability, Volume 5: The Long Nineteenth story collection with The University of South Dakota/As- Century, eds. Martha Stoddard Holmes and Joyce Huff. trophil press. She published short stories, including: "Light Bloomsbury. and Her Mother’s Arms," Midwestern Gothic, forthcoming; "Almost Like Children," Heavy Feather Review; "Harlen Richard Ness chaired and was a participant in the work- Kurjo" South Dakota Review; "Alex Smith," Eleven Eleven;"- shop "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fauna Moon," Waxwing. Her creative and critical essays Film Music (But Were Afraid to Teach)" at the Society for included "The Dakota Access Pipeline, Running Through Cinema and Media Studies annual conference in Chicago. the Heart of Native American Invisibility" Apoge Journal; He signed the contract to write An Encyclopedia of Jour- "The Fourth Wave in Native American Fiction"The Writ- nalism Films for Rowman and Littlefield, scheduled to be er’s Chronicle; "The Fourth Wave"Waxwing ; Introduction published fall of 2018. to Pariahs; "Native Art, Here We are, Where are We" Femi- nism for the Real World. She also published poems, includ- Shazia Rahman presented "Animal- ing "Your Eyes to the Sun" and "Beasts at Her Feet" in Taos ization in Pakistani Fiction" at the 45th Journal of International Poetry and Art; "Arcing Towards Annual Conference on South Asia at the Sun," and "Cold and Tired Wind," Dark Matter: Wom- the University of Wisconsin, Madison en Witnessing; "Distant as a Planet" and "Wild Blue Glo- in October, 2016. From December 2016 ry," Hysteria. She read her work or presented talks at the to January 2017, she traveled to Lahore, University of Dubuque; Aspen Institute of Arts, New York, Karachi, and Islamabad, Pakistan where NY; AWP Conference. Panels: Spaceships and Detectives she visited family, friends, and colleagues and Celebrating Langston, Washington D.C.; Mile-High as she squeezed in as much sightseeing as MFA, Writer Series, Regis University; Z-Arts (UT); Litfest possible. Here she is in Islamabad. Pasadena Book Festival; Salem College (NC); She was a judge for the University of Alabama, undergraduate and Jacqueline Wilson Co-advised (with Barbara Lawhorn), graduate creative writing contest, 2017. SITREP: Veteran Perspectives on Combat and Peace, in its second year of publication. Our magazine featured sixteen Pat Young presented "The Tell-Token" at the National contributors from all the major branches of the service who Council for Black Studies in Houston, Texas and "Killed submitted in four categories--fiction, non-fiction, poetry Because of Success: The Lynching of Thomas Moss, Calvin and art. We worked with a team of editors, all WIU--grad- McDowell, and Henry Stewart" at The College Language uate students, Ryan Bronaugh (fiction),Luke Cummings Association in Columbia, Missouri. (art), Jared Worley (non-fiction) andDan Holst (poetry). She helped pilot a Writing Fellows project for English 100, Staff and she published two poems: "Washing Deborah's Hair" in The Fem and "Milkweed" in Ink-in-Thirds in June. Ellen Poulter, the Academic Advisor for English, has re- cently been awarded the WIU Advisor of the Year Award! Alisha White was awarded "Best in Track" from CITR’s The award is given to one individual per year who has Faculty Research and Creative Activities Awards for her displayed an excellence in advising and has reflected the research study titled "Creative Responses about the College mission and goals of the Advising Unit at Western Illinois Experiences of Students with Disabilities." She published University. two images in Oddball Magazine, "In Darkness" and "Red Dance." She presented "Creative responses to Literature: Lynne Ward, Staff Clerk in the Department of English for Advocating for the arts in ELA with Preservice Teachers." 5 years, was selected as the College of Arts and Sciences with student Alexis Phares; She participated in "Commis- Civil Service Award winner for 2016. This award recog- sion on Arts and Literacies Roundtable Session" at the nizes her endearing personality, on-going commitment to annual conference of the National Council of Teachers of holding us all together, and astounding work ethic. Con- English (NCTE), Atlanta, GA, where she also presented gratulations on a well-deserved award! "First Person Narration as Agency in Novels Portraying The Mirror & The Lamp 15 Presenting at the EGO Conference By: Emily Bryce Swain scent of coffee. I walked into the student work done on one of my favorite clas- lounge to find a slew of familiar faces sics. In the end, everyone clapped, and Staring in the mirror, I quickly realized dressed in business casual wear, like my- one of my peers even raised his hand to how dorky my former choir concert self (albeit probably a bit newer than my compliment me on the work I’d done. clothes from high school looked on my five year old dress). Everyone was either When it was all over and I was asked to twenty-year-old frame. Unearthed from walking around chatting or pinning on stand with my fellow presenters to take the back of my closet, the black and pink name tags casually while enjoying donuts a picture, the smile on my face was one floral dress and matching black “busi- and coffee. I set my purse down, took hundred percent genuine. ness” heels made me look more like a a deep breathe, and proceeded to eat fifteen-year-old soprano nervous for her at least five donuts while chatting with solo and less like the studious English some friends. Instantly, I was feeling undergrad look I was going for. Regard- much calmer, until it was announced The Fall less, I rushed out the door with a folder that the panels would be starting. in hand, cursing myself for not buying a of the pair of slacks the night before. My panel, of course, was first. Puddle That morning I sucked in some I was headed air and forced to the English down a gulp of By: Rebecca Gonner Graduate Or- coffee before As the spring semester begins, Western ganization and heading up the students have flocked back to campus Sigma Tau Delta stairs. Conference, from their winter break retreats. The halls of Simpkins are once again filled with the along with other Once again, I members of chatter of classmates and colleagues, and found that the the squeals of shoes on the outdated tiles. Sigma Tau Delta. nerves were not This conference Yet one staple feature of Simpkins Hall did Presenters Emily Bryce Swain, Rebecca Gonner, and Haley at all needed. I not return from our well-deserved break. had recently be- Helgesen stand with Dr. Helwig after presenting their panel looked for the gun to allow un- “Transatlantic Women: Overcoming Patriarchal Obsta- room number, Due to the efforts of cles” at the local conference our landscapers over dergrads in for only to find it the course of this the first time. As a result, the members was the same classroom I’d had class in past fall semester, the of Sigma Tau Delta were encouraged to only a semester prior. I settled myself infamous puddle that submit academic papers about any book down in the familiar seat as members of or topic, even though the theme of the we all loved to hate both EGO and STD filed into the room. no longer forms at conference was on “Economy.” Earlier My fellow panelists chatted with me. In that month, I submitted a paper I wrote the sidewalk juncture fact, before everything started, I found on the north side of for my English 299 methods course on myself laughing as panelist Rebecca Jane Eyre and the role of Christianity in the English building. Gonner noted the absurd amount of do- You may have noticed university workers the novel. My paper had been placed in nuts I consumed. The people in the room outside Simpkins, working on the grassy a panel about “transatlantic women” (a all made me feel relaxed and welcome area adjacent to the Simpkins Sidewalk term I ended up Googling the morning before we even began reading. Dip. Though I didn’t pay them much of) that I was expected to read out loud attention during the process, in hindsight and discuss. When it was finally my turn, I walked it’s clear the workers were steamrolling the up to the table and spread out my paper. ground to create a path for the water that As I began to walk up to familiar Simp- To my surprise, all eight pages of the normally puddles all across the sidewalk to kins Hall, I became increasingly nervous. paper went by incredibly fast. There were drain down into the grass. It may not look Was I dressed appropriately? What if the moments I cringed at my wordiness or like much of a difference, but the slight dip other two presenters on the panel had suppressed a laugh at the ridiculously in the grass created by this steamrolling astoundingly better papers than mine? pretentious diction I used, but overall I was all that was needed to redirect the rainwater away from the sidewalk. The What if I was the only undergraduate to found myself feeling proud of the work students of Western need no longer to fear show up? My hands began to shake and I I’d done. Years prior when I first entered damp socks or puddly footprints previous- pulled my folder to my chest as I entered into the English Education program, the hall. ly caused by collisions with the once-for- I never thought I’d be a good enough midable puddle. The path to the home of writer to be asked to speak at a panel, Upon walking in, I was greeted with the English shall forevermore remain clear of but here I was reading new academic watery obstructions. 16 The Mirror &The Lamp Murder, Mystery, and English Majors: Experiencing an Evening of Sherlockian Detection By: Tess Tyler I have always had an immense passion for playing the police and the rest of us, the Sigma Tau Delta and the opportunity to literature, so when I joined Sigma Tau Del- artists and historical figures, would be participate in more Dinner & Conversation ta and was promptly invited to the Dinner playing the suspects. We were then encour- events in the future! & Conversations event entitled “Murder at aged to talk to different characters about the Old Bailey: An Evening of Sherlockian their biography and look for clues in order Graduate Student Detection,” I nearly trembled with excite- to solve the murder of H.G Wells. Thus, we Klaira Strickland ment. Of course, as a bonus, I was notified began socializing with other characters, that all attendees (student and staff) were writing down clues, and laughing as we did The Book that encouraged to dress as particular artists our best to imitate our historical figures. Changed my Life from the 1920’s while participating in this event. At this point, I was practi- By: Jared Worley cally squealing with delight. In my eyes, attending a murder mystery dinner with What is the book that changed your life? other English majors while simultaneously The Marble Cake Cat is the book that has imitating one of my favorite authors was changed my life for the better. better than any night out. How would you describe the book to From the moment I stepped foot in the someone who hasn’t read it? Old Baily House, I was entranced. I came It is a children’s chapter book about a mar- dressed as Virginia Woolf (complete with ble colored cat that no one wants to adopt a long skirt and a bun), and I giggled as I because he has such strange patterns on his observed the character prop table set up fur. He goes through many owners, each in the entryway of the building. This table having a one problem or another such as held various props for each artistic figure a big dog, other cats, and general aban- that would be “attending” the dinner, and it donment. Eventually he runs away and contributed to the aesthetic of the evening. wanders in the woods until he comes upon For example, the table included a peach for a lonely cabin. He encounters a sick boy T.S Elliot, a magnifying glass for Agatha and finally finds peace, acceptance, and a Christine, and a pink feather boa for Mae loving home. West. I scooped up the rocks left for Vir- ginia Woolf and winced as I remembered Tess Tyler (me), Bryce Swain, and Where/How did you first encounter this my clothing did not have pockets. What a Rebecca Gonner attended the dinner book? shame! Student and staff enjoyed carry- as Virginia Woolf, Sarah Bernhardt, I first encountered this book when I was a small child and my mother would read ing their props throughout the night and and Isadora Duncan. also appreciated the character biographies it to me. I liked it so much that it became left with them. The short biographies we At the end of the discussion period, every- my favorite book and I wanted to hear or received were extremely useful later. one analyzed their notes and guessed the read the story every night. I still own the name of the murderer. I am delighted to original book that is yellowing and curling Once everyone was present and had the say that many attendees guessed correctly! with age. It even has four-year-old scribbles opportunity to consume some of the It appeared that the analysis and prediction of my name in it. delicious food prepared for the event, skills we obtained through our English Dr. Helwig described Sherlock’s methods degrees paid off that night. I am sure that How did the book change you? of inductive and deductive reasoning, Sherlock Holmes would be proud! The Marble Cake Cat changed my life and also “set the scene” for the evening. because I have always felt different for According to her story, H.G. Wells created I thoroughly enjoyed my first Sigma Tau various reasons being double-jointed, the a time machine and used his machine to Delta Dinner & Conversations event. It child whose parents are divorced, or the bring various artists and historical figures was wonderful to see new faces, meet tattooed creative writing girl so I identified from the 1920’s to the Old Bailey house in new people, and discuss some of the most with the Marble Cake Cat and his journey the year 2017. Unfortunately, this angered influential figures in history. I immense- to find acceptance and the place he really many of the figures, and coincidentally, ly appreciated the time and effort spent belongs. Everyone I have mentioned the H.G. wells was promptly, mysteriously, and organizing and planning the event, and I book to has never heard of it so I continue ridiculously murdered shortly after this believe everyone who attended was equally to spread the word about this little book so event. charmed and enchanted by the evening. I that others can learn about the marble cake Dr. Helwig explained that she would be look forward to my future as a member of cat and what it means to be accepted. The Mirror & The Lamp 17 A Magical Experience: Harry Potter Study Abroad By: Haley Helgesen to believe there is a real Hogwarts out there. I first readHarry Potter and the Sor- “At the end of the tour is cerer’s Stone when I was eleven years old. Staying up past my bedtime, read- Hogwarts Castle, just a scale The walking tour of Edinburgh was ing by lamp light, I never imagined model of course, but it was my favorite part of the trip thus far. the series would have such a profound We saw how Rowling’s local haunts effect on me. J.K. Rowling’s books not honestly beautiful. . . see- inspired many of the characters and only delighted my overactive child- ing the castle in its entirety locations in Harry Potter. We went to hood imagination, they also cemented a graveyard where Rowling frequently reading as one of the great passions made me believe in magic ate lunch (she’s an eccentric writer, of my life. I wouldn’t be an English again.” this is pretty standard behavior for us) major today without those books, so and saw headstones for a poet named when I heard the English Department I had another cup of tea on the return McGonagall and some nobody named was looking for people who wanted trip from the Jacobite (aka The Hog- Tom Riddell. We also saw George Har- to spend two weeks in the United warts Express). It feels like I am travel- riet, the school that inspired Hogwarts, Kingdom visiting all the locations that ing solely to drink tea in new locations. and Spoon Café, where she wrote the inspired the series I hold most dear, I go from drinking tea at the pub, to first few books. I’m almost certain that I only had one question. Where do I drinking tea on the train, to drinking the reason my own series hasn’t been sign up? tea at the café, to drinking tea on the published yet is because I have no train home, to drinking tea in bed. It moody cemetery to steal names from, Before we even left, Dr. Buchanan makes for a very cyclical day. On an and no relative whose coffee shop I can instructed us to keep travel journals, unrelated note, my heart rate appears write in for free. saying we would thank her someday. to have tripled over the past few days. I Well, it hasn’t even been a year, and I’m should really look into whether decaf- already thankful. Rather than attempt feinated tea is a thing here. [Edit: It is!] Today we went to High Tea. I can some retrospective that explains the now confirm that tea sandwiches are abstract benefits of studying abroad, a superior food group, and I will be I’m going to share some of my prized Alnwick Castle is where they filmed unjustifiably denied them no longer. journal entries. Hopefully that paints Quidditch training, McGonagall’s When we walked in, a string cover of a clear picture of what being a Harry office, the Whomping Willow, the “Yesterday” by the Beatles was playing, Potter fan in the United Kingdom is entrances to Hogwarts, and the Forbid- which was great. What wasn’t great like. den Forest scenes. Exploring the cas- was how they played that same cover tle’s interior and grounds was a weird on repeat the entire hour and a half we mixture of emotions. I felt adoration were there. I get it, London, the Beatles I’ve never flown internationally before. for the richness are awesome. Thanks for ruining their Our flight attendant is a sassy Irish and visibility of man who makes us laugh at every Europe’s history, interaction. He asked my boyfriend as well as pleasant if he wanted a coffee, and then made confusion over fun of him for saying yes. “This isn’t how Hogwarts was a Starbuck” he shouted loud enough jigsawed togeth- for the whole plane to hear. He also er with so many reprimanded me for meekly asking if pieces of a single they carried any tea. “This is a good castle. As amazing Irish airline,” he responded, “of course as it was, it was also there’s tea”. I’m a little disappointed we a little heartbreak- won’t be spending any time in Ireland, ing because a part they seem like my people. of me still wants

18 The Mirror &The Lamp best song forever. Proust Questionaire- Dr.

Seeing Stonehenge is weird. We’ve seen Magdelyn Helwig some old buildings so far, but stand- By: Kate Ivy ing in awe of a 5,000-year-old stone The Proust Questionnaire is a popular circle makes you realize your presence form of interview, developed by French What or who is an insignificant blip in the relic’s writer, Marcel Proust, that is focused on is the greatest lifespan. It’s humbling, and more than the interviewees personality. love of your a little unnerving. Thankfully, the gift Dr. Magdelyn Helwig is an Assistant Pro- life? shop sells tea to calm you down from fessor and the Writing Program Director My mom post-Stonehenge existential crises. at WIU. She received her PhD in English Language and Literature from the Univer- Which talent sity of Maryland, College Park. would you most like to We only had a half hour of free time have? before leaving Oxford, so a group of Who are your favorite writers? us ran to the Inkling’s pub, The Eagle The ability to carry a tune (and thus play Ted Hughes, William Faulkner, Mari- and Child, where Tolkien came up an instrument…) anne Moore, Elizabeth Bishop, Margaret with Middle Earth. It was cool, but Atwood, Wallace Stevens, Frank O’Hara, What do you consider your greatest crowded, and we barely got our drinks Geraldine Brooks, Eugene O’Neill, Iain achievement? before it was time to hop on the bus. In Pears, C.J. Sansom, Tennessee Williams, summation, I chugged a glass of tepid Emily Dickinson, Kurt Vonnegut, T. S. Completing my Ph.D. merlot in honor of Tolkien. I’ve never Eliot, Toni Morrison What is your motto? felt so alive. Who is your favorite hero/heroine of Nolite te bastardes carborundorum (Don’t fiction? let the bastards grind you down) The tour of the stages where they Offred (the narrator ofThe Handmaid’s What is your current state of mind? Tale) filmed Harry Potter held the last great Anxious surprise. At the end of the tour is Who are your heroes in real life? Hogwarts Castle, just a scale model of If you were to die and come back as a course, but it was honestly beautiful. My mom and Eleanor Roosevelt person or thing, what do you think it They played the film score and I got to What is your idea of perfect happi- would be? walk around the entire castle grounds. ness? A book I saw pieces of Gloucester Cathedral, Alnwick Castle, Lacock Abbey, George Beach + Book If you could choose what to come Harriet, and more. Every minute of Which historical figure do you most back as, what would it be? the trip had left me with puzzle pieces identify with? A cat of the United Kingdom hodgepodge Queen Elizabeth I that is Hogwarts. Seeing those piec- How would you like to die? es assembled wasn’t just emotional What is the trait you most loathe in “Oh starry starry night! This is how because it represented my trip, it also yourself? I want to die: confirmed my childlike desire to know Laziness Hogwarts is real. I have been told since I was young that Hogwarts is fiction- What is the trait you most loathe in into that rushing beast of the night, others? al. Throughout this trip I’ve had to sucked up by that great dragon, to split remind myself that I’m only visiting a Narcissism few of the thousands of set pieces and from my life with no flag, What do you enjoy most about WIU? locations that make up my fictitious no belly, version of Hogwarts. However, see- The fabulous students! ing the castle in its entirety made me no cry.” Describe Macomb in one word? believe in magic again. Hogwarts isn’t -Anne Sexton just a bunch of carefully edited stills or Isolated CGI, it’s just as real as the tenderness What is your dream occupation? with which I regard it. Seeing it is a memory I’ll never forget. Rare book archivist The Mirror & The Lamp 19 We hope you enjoy the third print edition of The Mir- The Mirror & the Lamp ror & the Lamp. The goal of our magazine is to bring together students, faculty, and alumni of Western Illi- Executive Editor Rebecca Gonner nois University’s Department of English. Managing Editor Bryce Swain Please keep us informed of your recent activities and achievements. Please email your news to our faculty Undergraduate Editors Tess Tyler adviser, Dr. David Banash: [email protected]. Janay Conley

You can also find more stories in our online edition: Graduate Editor Kate Ivy https://mirrorandthelamp.org/ Layout Designer Rebecca Gonner The Mirror & the Lamp is a publication of the Phi Delta chapter of Sigma Tau Delta at Western Illinois Sigma Tau Delta Faculty Adviser Dr. Tim Helwig University Mirror & the Lamp Faculty Adviser Dr. David Banash

The Mirror & the Lamp The Department of English Simpkins Hall Western Illinois University Macomb, IL. 61455