April 01, 2008

English conference features discussions, readings

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Association of English Graduate Instructors and Students – otherwise known as AEGIS – at Southern Illinois University Carbondale hosts a three-day conference at SIUC this weekend that is free and open to the public.

Co-coordinator Rachel Hawley said the purpose is to strengthen the academic community at SIUC. The conference, organized and managed by the graduate student association, will hopefully be the first of an academic tradition at SIUC, she said.

The conference begins Thursday, April 3, at 2 p.m. and continues all day both Friday and Saturday in the SIUC Student Center, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The conference features more than a dozen panels of graduate students from SIUC and several other universities reading academic papers and, in some cases, original works of poetry or fiction. Papers cover a wide array of literary topics, including Northern Irish poetry, Shakespeare, science fiction, Victorian literature, literature in translation and 20th century American writers.

Other highlights include:

Ivan Kreilkamp, associate professor of English literature at Indiana University and co-editor of the journal "Victorian Studies," presents a discussion, "Publication Today: A workshop on publishing journal articles today," 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. on Friday, April 4, in the Illinois Room.

Pinckney Benedict, professor of creative writing at SIUC, reads his story, "Pig Helmet and the Wall of Life," 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. on Friday, April 4, in the Mississippi Room.

Keynote address, Ivan Kreilkamp, "Pitying the Sheep in 'Far From the Madding Crowd,'" 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 4, in the Mississippi Room. A reception follows at 5:30 p.m. in the Illinois Room.

Presentation on the Special Collections of SIUC's Morris Library, 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, in the Mackinaw Room.

Rodney Jones, professor and distinguished scholar of creative writing at SIUC, poetry reading, 1:45 p.m., Saturday, April 5, in the Mackinaw Room.

Kevin J. H. Dettmar, professor of English at SIUC, guest presenter, 6 p.m., Saturday, April 5, in the Mackinaw Room.

Social event, 8 p.m., Saturday, April 5, Mélange Coffee House, 607 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale.