English Honor Society Attends Annual Convention

photo: Dr. Sarah Dangelantonio

by Jeffrey Payne
edited by Nalina Shapiro

The Franklin Pierce chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, spent their spring break with English majors and famous writers from all over the world at the society’s Annual International Convention.

Members of Sigma Tau Delta left campus on March 15 at 11:30 a.m. and travelled to St. Louis, Missouri where this year’s convention was being held. The convention began on March 17 and had four keynote speakers as well as group sessions and leadership workshops.

The keynote speakers included acclaimed writers such as Chris Abani a Nigerian novelist and Azar Nafisi who wrote Reading Lolita in Teran. “There were 3 speakers who I saw and they were all so inspiring and amazing, and they were all related in that they were all refugees from different countries,” said junior Sarah Smith Barnum.

The students also had the opportunity to participate in group sessions where they got the chance to hear work from students at other schools as well as read some of their original critical essays and creative work. “I was a panel chair for two different panels, the first was a critical essay’s panel with four speakers/writers and the second was an original poetry panel. I basically announced the people’s names where they were from what they were reading and told people to turn off their phones and then I asked them questions at the end,” said Smith Barnum.

This year’s convention had over 400 people attending from the United States, as well as a chapter from Kuwait. “Everyone is an English major or minor. It’s for people who like language and literature. They never get a better audience,” said Dr. Sarah Dangelantonio a professor at Franklin Pierce and Iota Omega Chapter sponsor.

Students were given the chance to share their work outside of group sessions. Events included a “Bad Poetry Night” where participants got the chance to read their worst poetry. There was also an open mic night where students were allowed to get up and read their original work. “The things people were reading was amazing,” said Smith Barnum.

The convention changes location every year and will be taking place in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania next year. Students raise money through care package fundraisers throughout the year which covers travel and rooming expenses. Students only have to pay out of pocket for meals.

“It gave me a really broad perspective of writing and literature. It really shows where English academia is on a national scale,” said senior and Franklin Pierce chapter President, Bryce Mainville.

Students returned at 6:30 a.m on Monday March 22 in time to resume classes.