By ANGELINA MANDELL
Copy Editor
The English Department at Saint Rose held their annual English Symposium on Thursday April 20 in the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary. The English Symposium is an event for English majors to present the work they’ve done in various English courses throughout the year, or showcase projects they are currently working on.
There were two panels at the symposium: an academic panel and a creative panel. The academic panel was led by English professor Dr. Jennifer Marlow, and the creative panel was led by English professor Dr. Daniel Nester. The academic panel had students present research papers or presentations, while the creative panel ranged from poetry to interactive fiction.
“Dr. Marlow and Professor Nester made it easy going and set a relaxing yet professional environment. I think holding the symposium in the interfaith sanctuary was the ideal place,” said presenter MyAsia Wiggins, who presented works on both panels.
Both panels had presenters sit together at the end to answer any questions the audience had for them about their pieces. Professors, other English students, friends, and family were all invited to attend.
The academic panel kicked off the event with four presentations of research papers, ranging from seminar papers on the history of periodicals, on fashion and feminism, to senior thesis papers on documentaries on service dogs. Each student was given a chance to discuss why they chose their unique paper topics during the following Q&A.
“The Q & A was probably the most nerve wracking part of the process because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to answer the question thrown my way but It wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it would be,” said Wiggins after the presentations.
The creative panel also had four presentations of original poems, free-writing, and an interactive fiction piece. From emotional poems to thrillers, the creative panel was able to showcase each presenter’s writing style and personality.
The presenters were lively and excited to share their projects they have dedicated their academic career to. “Presenting was an excellent experience for me! It’s my senior year in the English Program, so this was a highlight for sure,” said Lynn Hennessy, one of the presenters on the creative panel.
“It was truly a pleasure and an honor to be asked to present on both the literature and creative writing panel. I enjoyed presenting on both panels with some familiar and unfamiliar faces,” added Wiggins.
Hennessy presented an interactive fiction story crafted on the digital story platform Twine entitled “What Happened Yesterday.” Because it was a choose-your-own-adventure story, her presentation required the audience to make decisions to get them through the story. “I was definitely nervous that people wouldn’t participate, but people seemed to love it! it went over very well and it was overall a very fun time” Hennessy said.
English students got to listen to and discuss pieces from their other students, many of whom they shared classes with. “Being an audience member was interesting, as I got to listen to a ton of work I never would have heard as I wasn’t in those classes,” Hennessy mentioned after the event.
The symposium concluded with pizza and refreshments in the sanctuary’s basement where presenters and guests could mingle.
