Spring 2015

Teaching English: Seniors Reflect

By Rachel Weeks

Someone once told me that in order to really love

something, you have to kind of hate it, too. Im not
entirely sure how sound that advice is, but I would
say it sums up my feelings about Elon perfectly. Liz
Sheehan is a senior English major graduating this
spring who describes herself as an avid reader and
learner, her mothers daughter with [her] fathers
eyebrows, and someone who loves school, Sour
Patch Kids Watermelon, and laughing. Liz is graduating with a concentration in Teaching Licensure,
or, English TLC. The English TLC major equips
graduates to teach English to high school students,
and once majors have finished all necessary program requirements, they receive a North Carolina
secondary English teaching license.
Lainey McQuain, another senior TLC major set to
graduate this spring, believes her TLC major has
helped prepare her for the reality of teaching high
school English as a profession: Being an English
[with] TLC major at Elon prepares you to feel
confident in your content knowledge and also feel
comfortable with the various experiences and roles
in education because youve been exposed to the
classroom for all 4 years of college. As the TLC
major requires you to do student teaching for the
majority of your undergraduate education, you can
be sure you will have a good foundation of experience once you leave Elon. Liz highlights the way
in which her major is surprisingly demanding of
[her] time, and that as a result, she is confident in
[her] abilities to manage [her] responsibilities and
skim any reading assignment.
When asked what they would tell students just
striking out in the TLC concentration, Liz and
Lainey both have good advice.

Teaching is a challenging profession for so many

reasons, Liz says, but goes on to say, My time in the
School of Education and particularly student teaching has only solidified my desire to teach high school
English, and that the English and Education departments have some of the most kind-hearted, eclectic,
knowledgeable, and genuinely fun professors. Lainey
emphasizes the importance of finding your passion
in the major; you dont have to like all of it, but finding an area where you really connect to the material is
essential . . . My World Literature course exposed me
to Asian Literature, and I am now teaching Chinese
and Japanese poetry to my students. The English
TLC major offers a multitude of opportunities for expanding your knowledge of English in general, as well
as equipping you to teach that information later.

The English and Education departments have some of the most

kind-hearted, eclectic, knowledgeable, and genuinely fun professors .
Ultimately, both Liz and Lainey have found a lot of
value in their time as English TLC majors here at
Elon, and feel prepared for what awaits after graduation. If I had chosen the same major at another
university, I dont think I would have had the same
experience, Lainey says. Liz feels grateful for her
experience at Elon as well: I have befriended wonderful professors, faculty, and fellow students, studied abroad, taken leadership positions on campus,
eaten my fair share of Freshii, and most importantly,
learned a lot about myself. I loved my time here so
much that I truly hate to leave.

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Editorial Staff
Ciara Corcoran 17
ccorcoran2@elon.edu
Will Guy, 16
wguy@elon.edu
Rachel Weeks 16
rweeks2@elon.edu

New Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Bourque

By Rachel Weeks

At long last I can explain why I love these things, like

why they nourish me, why I think theyre important.
So says Dr. Kevin Bourque on being a professor of
English literature. Dr. Bourque started teaching at Elon
just this year and is currently teaching English 110 and
English 355, The Rise of the Novel. Dr. Bourque has
loved literature since he was a kid, when two of his favorite authors, Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis, showed him
that the world could be magic, if you knew the right
way to approach it, if you knew exactly where to look.

When I had the opportunity to do

an undergrad thesis, I did it on Queer
Lit . . . it gave me a vocabulary to think
about who I was. It helped me know
that I had a people, that I had a history.
Later, while pursuing his undergraduate degree, Dr.
Bourque would find yet more reasons to love literature:
When I was in undergrad, literature became, for me, a
way to try to make sense of my own identity . . . I grew
up queer, and there were not many representations of
that. He goes on to say, When I had the opportunity
to do an undergrad thesis, I did it on Queer Lit . . .
it gave me a vocabulary to think about who I was. It
helped me know that I had a people, that I had a history.
Dr. Bourque is Cajun and grew up in Louisiana. His
grandparents only spoke French, and in Dr. Bourques words, I can cook a very good gumbo. Before coming to Elon, Dr. Bourque taught writing,
literature and queer studies at the University of
Texas, Austin, and taught a course on The Queer
Eighteenth Century at Southwestern University.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from

the small, liberal arts Louisiana Scholars College
in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Dr. Bourque pursued
his masters in English literature and Womens and
Gender Studies from San Francisco State University. He then went on to receive his PhD in English
from The University of Texas at Austin with concentrations in 18th century literature and culture
and the history of bookmaking.
Dr. Bourque wanted to come to Elon because as
a small liberal arts college, it reminds him of what
he loved about his own undergraduate institution.
When asked what he likes the best about teaching at
Elon, Dr. Bourque says that he loves being in small
classes where his students have thoughtful and interesting things to say. He
talks about a moment in the
first few weeks of his Rise
of the Novel class where
he asked a question, looked
up, and saw ten people raising their hands. Dr. Bourque
calls it an embarrassment
of riches.
Next semester, Dr. Bourque is looking forward to
teaching a course on lesbian and gay Literature and
culture. Hes taught versions of this course before
and says he likes it because he gets to teach books
he loves on a subject he cares about. I do love
teaching, so I feel fortunate that I can do something I like while Im doing research and the other
stuff that I enjoy.

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English Minor Opportunities

Do you love to write? Want to improve your writing communication skills in addition
to your own major? Love to read but dont know how to make time for it? Consider minoring in Creative Writing, Professional Writing, or Literature. All three minors provide
ample opportunities. Visit elon.edu and go to the English departments web page to
learn more, as well as information about requirements.

Pat Jones: Program Assistant

By Ciara Corcoran
Pat Jones is the program assistant for the English Department, but most students may know her as the person who refills the candy in the Fishbowl. Pat grew up
in Graham, North Carolina, only a short drive down
I-40. In high school, she even played tennis on the
courts at Elon.
Before coming to Elon, Pat spent 13 years working
for AT&T and then transferred to a marketing firm in
Greensboro. She has worked with a variety of people
from engineers to strategists, giving her the dexterity
and ability to interact with all groups and individuals.
The working environment at Elon is different than
the environments of the other places Pat has worked.
Instead of having 30 or more people stop by her
desk each day, she now has different sets of people
on M/W/F and T/TH in addition to fewer people
each day. The faculty are more independent than the
people in the business world, but she welcomed the
change when she began working at Elon.

Pats role in the English Department at Elon is vital

to the inner workings between faculty, staff, and students. She is the cog that keeps everything running
smoothly between all the moving parts of the department. In addition to performing administrative work,
she also assists with the events of Sigma Tau Delta,
the English Honor Society.
Pat describes herself as the oil king. She is the person who runs the show, but doesnt always get credit
for it. The Department would not run as smooth or
efficiently without her. Her candy keeps the students
in good spirits and her warm personality brings positivity to the department.

The group of people Pat particularly loves talking to

are the students. She began putting coffee and candy
in the Fishbowl (which is actually called the Student
Enrichment Center) as a way to draw students into the
space. In the past, students would sit in the hall and
do their work, so Pat made the Fishbowl a welcoming
space for students. The candy brought the students
in from the hall and now Pat can talk to the students
as they drift in and out of the Fishbowl. She is always
open to candy recommendations.

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The Fem
Senior English majors Autumn Spriggs and Rachel Lewis are co-founders of The
Fem: A Feminist Literary Magazine, a combo literary magazine and safe space. People with disabilities, people of color, women of color, members of the LGBTQIA
community, trans people, and all members of oppressed groups are welcome here and
encouraged to submit. Visit thefemlitmagazine.wordpress.com to read submissions,
and find out how to submit your own!

Sigma Tau Delta

By Will Guy

Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society, provides

opportunities for academically driven English students.
To become a member of Sigma Tau Delta, students
must be declared an English majors or minors, have
junior standing in hours, taken 4 courses beyond ENG
110, an English GPA of 3.25 and an Overall GPA of 3.0.
Transfer
students
must
have
completed one semester of study at Elon University. Inductions are held once a year, in the fall.
The organization serves as a way to recognize students for their high achievement in English language
and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. It provides cultural stimulation on
college campuses and promotes in surrounding communities interest in literature and the English language. Additionally, it fosters all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language,
and writing and serves society by fostering literacy.

The featured speakers this year are Simon Ortiz,

Gary Soto, and Leslie Marmon Silko. STD, the English Dept., and Undergraduate Research support
student attendance at the convention nearly 100%.
Dr. Kathy Lyday is faculty advisor for Sigma Tau Delta. She attends meetings with the officers, organizes
scholarship and convention applications, and helps
plan and facilitate social and department functions.
The current officers are Negesti Kaudo (President),
Lainey McQuain (V-P), Emily Cinquemani (Sec), and
Autumn Spriggs (Treas). A planning committee also
helps with programming. Sigma Tau Delta hosts a variety of events including a literary trivia night, guest
speakers (this year it was Walt Wolfram), an alumni
reading at homecoming, and a book drive to help The
Village Project. They also help sponsor the annual
department holiday party as well as the senior farewell celebration. Other events vary from year to year.

Sigma Tau Delta offers numerous opportunities to its

members. Students can hold offices, apply for scholarships (academic, graduate, and study abroad), present research in conferences, and take part in society
activities during the year. The organization draws in
students who are interested in the honor of being in
the society, participating in the convention, and having
the opportunity to apply for scholarships and grants.
The members also have the opportunity of fostering
fellowship with like-minded students who love reading, writing, and studying literature and language.
Only members can apply for scholarships and grants
and present their work (academic or creative) at the annual convention. This year the conference is in Albuquerque, NM. Three students are presenting their work:
Emily Cinquemani, Alisha Ingold, and Negesti Kaudo.

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Paper Pointers
Need help with a paper, resume, cover letter, or even a presentation? Visit the Writing Center, located on the first-floor of Belk Library. The Writing Center has trained
undergraduate consultants to help you with writing assignments from a multitude of
disciplines. Whether you need help with a literary essay or a job application, visit the
Writing Center Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and
Sunday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Senior Focus

Alumni News

Laurel Wiebe, is a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio with a

passion for literature. Wiebes passion for English began in her early years when she read To Kill a Mockingbird. However, she has always been interested in the
humanities. The artistic interpretation of human behavior reveals greater clarity and truths to me than most
subjects of study, Wiebe says. As a transfer student,
she entered Elon in the fall of 2012 as a sophomore.
She began her studies as a biology major, but then realized the ability to write, communicate, and critically
analyze were not only natural skills sets, but also abilities that are infinitely adaptable and important for any
career path. Following her realization, Wiebe changed
her major to English, with a concentration in literature.

Garrett Turner, class of 2008 is a former Professional Writing and Rhetoric student. In 2009, Turner sponsored a Nationwide Series car at NASCARs
Charlotte Motor Speedway for a fellow Kappa Alpha fraternity brother and missing Elon alumni, Kyle
Fleishman. In November of 2014, Turner was named
one of Baltimore Business Journals People on the
Move for his fundraising efforts for Cystic Fibrosis.

By Will Guy

The literature concentration at Elon prepares students for a wide variety of different career paths.
Wiebes interests within English vary widely; from
magazine writing, to higher education, even law.

The major teaches you how

to think, not what to think.
Currently, she has aspirations to work in a multiple
of different professions with her degree. She asserts
that she doesnt necessarily equate [her] major with
a direct career path, a somewhat paralyzing realization at first when youve been conditioned to believe
thats the only objective of college majors. As such,
coursework allows her to evaluate the material from
every perspective. Wiebe goes on to say that her studies have changed the way she thinks about life, relationships, politics, religion, and so much more. The
major teaches you how to think, not what to think.
In fact, the small class sizes have been great for Wiebe. The ability to discuss and analyze questions about
[her] favorite authors is intellectual candy (sic)

By Will Guy

After Elon, Turner felt prepared for the work world because PWR taught him how to communicate on an individual level. In addition, PWR helped Turner maximize [his] ability to work in a
small concentrated group. All
of his clients are international,
which means he has one-to-one
interaction with all of them,
just as he had in many of his
PWR classes. PWR has further
aided Turner when it comes to
identifying the key medium in
each customer...and find out
how we can discuss business
with each party knowing the
complexities of the technology we are working with and
the requirements for fulfilling their project demands.
The new year brings new goals for Turner. This year,
he is focused on encouraging his fellow alumni to aid
in completing the schools capital giving campaign for
Elons new school of Communications. Turner says
that he and his brother felt it was imperative to make
the new building a priority and decided to designate a
key-stone gift by naming the theater. The new Turner
Theatre will seat 250 and be used to present student
productions, showcase films, and other campus events.

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Consult Your Heart Out

Interested in becoming a consultant in Elons Writing Center? Sign up for English 319,
Writing Center Workshop. English 319 is a 4-credit hour class that includes preparing
you to work in the Writing Center through weekly, on-the-job experience in the Writing
Center. Successful completion of the course allows you to become a paid consultant.
Visit elon.edu/writingcenter for more information.

Senior
Spotlight:
Jessie
Bond
By Ciara Corcoran
The Basics
My name is Jessie Bond. Im from Libertyville, IL,
outside Chicago, and Im graduating in 2015. My majors are Theatre Studies and English with a concentration in Creative Writing.
How has Elon shaped your undergraduate
experience?
One of the best parts of my undergraduate experience at Elon was the opportunity to do undergraduate
research. Im a College Fellow, and for my project,
I wrote a full-length play, Deviants, which was produced through Renegade Productions in February.
Im working on additional revisions now, and I plan to
send the script out to professional companies later in
the semester. Im so fortunate to be able to work with
my amazing mentor, Scott Proudfit, who has been so
wonderful and supportive in guiding me through this
process.
What advice would you give to first-years
in your concentration/those considering
your concentration?
My advice to first-year creative writing students is to
be patient with yourself. You are not going to become
the Next Great American Writer overnight or even
in your four years here, and thats okay. Also, learning
how to take criticism is just as important a skill as
learning to write. You have to learn how to distance
yourself from your work enough to not take negative
criticism personally, but you also have to learn what
advice is worth following and what advice to ignore.
This will take time. Be patient. Finally, remember that
although short stories, essays, and poems are what
youll focus on in workshop classes, there are other
kinds of writing in the worldnovels, plays, screen-

What is a memorable moment about your

studies in English at Elon?
When I try to think of a memorable moment in my
time as an English major at Elon, what comes to
mind is mostly faces. Ive made some amazing friends
in this department, people who make me laugh and
make me think, whose work I love to read and who
I feel safe sharing my work with. Im going to miss
them.

2015 Carret Essay Contest

Elon has had many architects and many leaders over
the last 125 years, and they too have enshrined
self-consciously or notspecific values in our built
environment. At times, Elons builders have even
appropriated some of Jeffersons architectural vocabulary to communicate their ideas, including the
recent completion of our own Academic Village. In
a well-organized essay of c. 2,000 words drawing on
both close descriptions of specific spaces as well as
appropriate primary sources, evaluate the messages Elon is sending/has sent historically through its
architectural choices.
Carret Essay Contest submissions are due electronically to Samuele Pardini, coordinator of the American Studies Program (spardini@elon.edu) by 5 p.m.
on Wednesday, April 1.
More info can be found on the American Studies
website.

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