he Tatler 2013 - Claflin University

Bringing you new developments within the Department of English and Foreign Languages.
September 2013
Volume 12 Issue 1
en advantage of.
Claflin University students pose in front of
the Taj Mahal in Agra, India
Seeking Broader Horizons
By Shakera West
The spring semester of 2013 began
with the pounding of excited hearts as
ten students frantically prepared to
travel overseas for the first time. In
March, Claflin University sent an eclectic group of students from three
schools to India. After the long, grueling process of filling out paperwork for
studying abroad, passports, visas and
financial aid, all of the students were
ready to take their first trip into South
Asia.
While in India, the group stayed at
Amity University, which is an enormous campus with restaurants, stores,
and even a salon on the premises.
While there, the students received a
very warm welcome from the local students, faculty, and staff. They were
stopped quite frequently by security at
the school’s gates, but only as a precaution. The group traveled in vans on
several excursions: to see the Red Fort,
the palace of the Mughal emperors,
Akshardham, and other places in Delhi
and New Delhi, to Agra to see the Taj
Mahal, ,to the historic city of Jaipur
and several other places besides. All of
these destinations were filled with
places to shop, and in these places the
students learned to bargain with the
best. France was a completely different world compared to India. Whereas
in India friendships were fostered and
people appeared to be kind or at least
accommodating, there were no such
relationships in France. There were incidents where, as Americans, the
group was most likely shunned or tak-
it truly was. While it is a country that
lacks the many amenities that the
When they landed in America once United States has everywhere, Costa
again, all of the students returned with Rica was an authentic and beautiful
lighter wallets, heavier suitcases and
place to be, filled with its own unique
broadened perspectives. Every one of culture and a lifestyle so different from
them was able to better understand
that of my native country.
their own culture after being immersed
Growing up in the U.S., I was used
in one so very different. Ask any one of
to the constant barrage of obligations.
these students and they would say
In school there is always homework or
that studying abroad has changed
studying to do and outside of that
them for the better.
there are extracurricular activities to
My Study Abroad Experience in Cos- tend to, demands from employment,
personal care including exercise, and
ta Rica
even a social life all fitted into 24
hours. That does not include hobbies
By Felix Davila III
or sleep. In college that feeling douThe winter breeze caressed my face bled for me. I barely made time for
as I stepped outside from the car. After sleep as I always had something on my
grabbing all of my belongings, I head- plate to complete. On weekends I
ed inside the terminal where the chat- could finally slack off, but it was right
ter of hundreds of voices rang in my
back to work on Sunday giving me one
ear. Hustling and bustling, I checked
whole day of rest. Sometimes, it was
in, obtained my tickets, found my girl- overwhelming, but the Costa Rica trip
friend and, hand and hand, we said
made me take a step back.
goodbye to family and proceeded to
security and customs. That was the
Now I handle my priorities—I manmoment I realized I would be on my
age my time, but I ensure that I give
own for three months, in a country I
myself personal time to reflect, relax,
had only seen and heard about in
and do what I want just to keep peace
books. A seeming mythical land, Costa within my head and give some rest to
Rica became my “Narnia” in a way, a
my bones. My trip to Costa Rica
place of wonder no one else I knew had opened my eyes to how truly limited
our scope is here in the U.S., and it
experienced.
made me see that there is truly more
My family consisted of two older
to life than just the business that acindividuals, a married couple who were companies our hunt for accomplishing
welcoming, and had previously visited goals and aspirations. The journey is
the States. They had a maid, Mariale- what makes the destination all the
na, who was the nicest person I met in sweeter if that is how the saying goes.
this entire tropical nation. Also included in my new family was my houseOverall, while teaching me a strong
mate Justin, a student from Capital
lesson about life and how I should carUniversity in Ohio. After the initial hel- ry myself, studying abroad was an inlos and introductions, smaller conver- valuable experience. Without it I know
sations led to my first day at Veritas
I would not have accomplished what I
University, a school full of wealthy stu- did in the last year and a half while
dents, and located merely four blocks keeping my sanity! Study abroad!
from my home. Here, I met the other Make sure to visit a foreign country if
study abroad students in my program you can! It is life-altering, fun, enlightand I received a thorough orientation ening, and so many other adjectives
into the Costa Rica experience and the that refer to an ultimate change for the
school’s programs.
better. As it taught me many lessons
about life, I know it can do the same
Living in a foreign country was such for anyone else, and it will open the
an amazing experience, and I say that mind to what is outside of the norm.
because of the polarizing dynamic that
A Publication of the Department of English and Foreign Languages of Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC
Dr.
Thomas
Author
, Pearl
Kennedy
Cleage
The Color Purple photo from the Program.
“.. Dr. Kennedy poses the question, ‘After all
do we show a story or do we tell it?’”
-Jalesa
Fiction Writing Workshop with Author, Dr. Thomas E. Kennedy
By Jalesa Campbell
Ever wonder about good tips for
writing fiction? During the Eleventh
Annual English and Language Arts
Pedagogy Conference which took
place on October 3, 2012 and October
4, 2012 in Minister’s Hall, Dr. Thomas
E. Kennedy as the keynote speaker
held a workshop on fiction to provide
examples and tips for fiction writers
and fans of literature.
He highlighted points on the creation and revision of literature such as
involving “show and tell” and the enlivening of sentences. In terms of
“show and tell” Dr. Kennedy poses the
question, “After all do we show a story
or do we tell it?” and further answers,
“Most good fiction is a mix of show
and tell” (Kennedy). He comments
that, “…If you try to write fiction without ever telling anything only showing
everything you will quickly find yourself in a…stuffy room playing a kind of
pointless game of charades aching to
be allowed to say something straight
out for once and just get on with
it” (Kennedy). His humor created a
light-hearted atmosphere during the
workshop.
Faculty and students alike were
able to take away valuable information and points from Dr. Kennedy’s
address. Several questions were posed
at the end of his session on aspects of
creative writing from characterization
to crafting a story’s end. Dr. Kennedy
assured that fiction writing does involve effort, yet the process itself can
be one that is enjoyable.
“The production attracted students, faculty
members, staff, and citizens of Orangeburg to
see a story about ‘courage, love, hope, and inspiration.’”
-Ms. Annette Grevious
The Claflin University Theatre Ensemble Presents The Color Purple:
The Musical about Love
By Jalesa Campbell
The title The Color Purple hardly
travels anywhere today without recognition, and when the actual production
itself made its way to Orangeburg,
South Carolina it did not arrive unrecognized. The Color Purple debuted
Friday, April 12 – Sunday, April 14,
2013 at Stevenson’s Auditorium with
the collaboration of the Claflin University Theatre Ensemble and the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association. The production attracted students, faculty members, staff, and citizens of Orangeburg to see a story
about “courage, love, hope, and inspiration” as stated by the Director, Ms.
Annette Grevious.
The production was a theatrical and
musical performance that surrounded
the life of a woman named Celie and
her family and friends who were all
touched by Celie’s personality. Featured musical accompaniment was
provided by the Claflin University Orchestra, and musical numbers included “Miss Celie’s Pants”, “I’m Here”,
and “The Color Purple”. There was a
rotation in actors and actresses for the
production’s show times. Overall the
production was a success and entertaining for audience members.
Pearl Cleage Engages Students and
Faculty at Reception
By Jalesa Campbell
If you missed the reception for
Pearl Cleage held on Monday, March
18, 2013 you missed an intriguing conversation grown out of interest and
inquiry between students, faculty, and
Cleage. Held during Women’s History
Month, as an author selected for
Oprah’s Book Club and a New York
Times Bestseller, Cleage dazzled us
with additional information on her
novel What Looks Like Crazy on an
Ordinary Day, answered questions,
signed novels, and also mentioned
topics that are generally not well or
easily expressed in literature and her
motivations for that expression. She
also shared with us writing tips and
how characterization is created in her
works. Her visit to Claflin will be one
that is memorable as she shared with
us her inspirations and processes as a
writer and participator in the human
experience.
Moments from the 2013 Presidential Inauguration
The Presidential Inauguration from
Celena’s Perspective
By Celena Snoddy
“Forward” is all that could be heard
above the sounds of thousands of people crowding onto the platform set up
in front of the nation’s Capitol building
on January 21, 2013. This catch phrase
was the central message of the reelection campaign for President
Barack Obama who enjoyed the satisfaction of being sworn in for a second
time that Monday morning. At the
57th Presidential Inauguration the
President delivered a powerful address
to the country detailing a vindication
of the nation’s safety net programs as
well as a vow to confront the growing
issues surrounding gay rights and climate change.
Can you name at least one South
Asian author? After attending lectures
sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities provided by
The Department of English and Foreign Languages we are now knowledgeable of several South Asian authors. The Department of English and
Foreign Languages received a grant
from the National Endowment of the
Humanities to fund lectures focused
on Classical and Contemporary South
Asian Literature. The lectures began in
In addition to those issues, PresiMarch 2012 and will continue into the
dent Obama also addressed our unity fall 2013 semester. Lectures were givStaff members and students working together
as a country and our duty as producen by professors from various instituin the Writing Center
tive citizens of society. He reminded
tions on a number of subjects ranging
us that in order to preserve our individ- from Urdu fiction to Women’s Rights.
ual freedoms we must first do the
Dr. Farzaneh Milani’s lecture on “A
work required to withhold those Con- Revolution Within Revolutions: The
stitutional rights. While second terms Transformative Impact of Women
“The Writing Center since its renovation has
have often proved difficult and trouWriters in Contemporary Iran” was in- become a very useful resource. It is more welcomblesome, our President reminds us
sightful for students, faculty, and staff
ing, helpful, and beneficial than it was in previthat, “[America’s] possibilities are lim- as she commented on the voices of
itless...so long as we seize them towomen in Iran throughout history and
ous years.”
gether.” The opportunity to be in the how their voices began to change
-Lauren Pennix
presence of such a groundbreaking
lives. With the infusion of South Asian
event in the nation’s history was truly literary works into the Humanities stuThe Writing Center Renovation
amazing. The 2013 Presidential Inau- dents were able to read, discuss, and
guration is one that has given me a
experience different texts in their clasnewfound hope for a brighter future in ses; however, the dedication of faculty By Jalesa Campbell
America.
members working with the grant
Are you seeking new ideas to help
helped the learning experience and
enhance
your composition? With the
lectures become a true success.
renovation of our department’s Writing Center students are offered serTake a closer look behind the
scenes and you will find that the effect vices to assist them with their writing
of the grant extends further than just skills, ideas, documentation, and
lectures. After the speaker concludes more. Dr. Melissa Pearson, Director of
students, faculty, and visitors are invit- the Writing Center, received the South
Carolina Higher Education Excellence
ed to take part in traditional South
Asian refreshments provided by facul- Grant for the center’s renovation
which began in late fall 2012. Around
ty members who work on the grant
and also on campus. Students are liter- the beginning of the spring 2013 seally getting a taste of the culture when mester, the Writing Center re-opened
featuring new additions to include furthey attend these lectures. Also beniture and decorations to create a
hind the scenes you will find profeswarm, inviting space for students and
sors
working,
writing,
and
reading
diliDr. Deepika Bahri poses with a student
faculty members utilizing its services.
gently. They are constantly trying to
and professors
The Writing Center offers tutoring,
find new ways to tie these exciting and
collaboration,
and consulting services
extraordinarily insightful texts into
in
addition
to
workshops
for students
their curriculum; as an example Dr.
and
faculty
members.
Tutors
take a
Gaynell Gavin used the novel Persian
course
in
composition
theory
and a
by Nahid Rachlin in her Literary
“Take a closer look behind the scenes and you Girls
grammar
assessment
test
to
help
deCriticism class. A great idea! If you
will find that the effect of the grant extends peek into our professors’ meetings you termine their strengths and better
will find how invested they are to their equip them to serve the student body.
further than just lectures.”
tasks by the arrangement of meetings, The services and workshops provided
by Dr. Pearson and staff members of
sharing of ideas, coordination of ser-Shakera
the Writing Center demonstrate true
vices, the arrival, and departure of
service learning as they are working
The National Endowment for the Hu- guest speakers—professors Skype
together to help the student body not
manities Public Lecture Series on long-distance if they must! It is this
dedication that keeps the program go- only through written composition, but
South Asian Literature
also technological advancements.
ing strong and the students filing
By Shakera West and Jalesa Campbell through the auditorium doors, though
a little food does not hurt either.
As an exciting future plan for the Writing Center, Dr. Pearson mentions that
by providing students with the ability
to scan their identification cards better record-keeping practices can be
utilized.
of English, completed a UNCF/Mellon
Faculty Residency at New York University during the summer of 2013 in
which she conducted research on African Canadian Literature. She also visited the Archives of Ontario in Toronto, Ontario to work on additional reDr. Pearson’s vision for the Writing search on African Canadian LiteraCenter is that she would like to see
ture, culture, and history.
more MAC computers used so that
that students could be more familiar
Dr. Sharon Jones, visiting Profeswith different technological platsor of English from Wright State Uniforms. In my interview with Lauren
versity, presented on “Enhancing the
Pennix she notes that, “The Writing
Learning Experience Interdisciplinary
Center since its renovation has beStrategies for Literary Studies in the
come a very useful resource. It is more 21st Century” at the Eleventh Annual
welcoming, helpful, and beneficial
Claflin University Pedagogy Conferthan it was in previous years.” Person- ence on Contemporary English and
ally speaking, I can also say that to see Language Arts on October 4, 2012.
my peers working one-on-one with
She also gave a presentation entitled
students in this setting is encouraging “Toni Morrison’s Jazz: Representing
and shows the commitment and dedi- Harlem in a Twentieth-Century Novcation that they have to help others
el” in Augusta, GA on November 7,
and see them flourish as they matricu- 2012.
late here at Claflin University.
Dr. Donald Pace, Interim Dean of
Celebrating the Accomplishments the School of Humanities and Social
and Endeavors of Our Faculty and Sciences, teaches History, Spanish,
Staff
and Political Science courses and has
served as the Study Abroad Director.
By Jalesa Campbell
He has published a number of books
to include the topics of Spanish LiterOur faculty and staff in the Depart- ature, history on the American West,
ment of English and Foreign Lanand South Asian public policy with Dr.
guages are excelling in their endeav- Omar Bagasra.
ors and accomplishments. Several
faculty and staff members have reDr. Mitali Wong, Professor of Engleased publications, contributed to
lish, served as Director of the National
academic peer-reviewed journals,
Endowment of the Humanities Public
presented at conferences, and also
Lecture Series which focused on Clasreceived grants to further their resical and Contemporary South Asian
search and academic areas of exper- Literature. In March 2013 she and five
tise.
students travelled to India as a part of
the National Endowment of HumaniDr. Reginald Bess, Professor and
ties funded project activities. During
Chair of the Department of English
the summer of 2013 Dr. Wong comand Foreign Languages, was awarded pleted an online course with Florida
a travel stipend by the American As- State College to train as online educasociation of Teachers of German) to
tor. Her third book was published in
attend the 2013 International Confer- January 2013.
ence of German Teachers held in BolDr. Jason Youngkeit, Assistant Prozano, Italy from July 29, 2013 to August 3, 2013. He also received a grant fessor of Spanish, has recently published an article entitled "Malinche de
to study in Germany over the sumLaura Esquivel: Una lucida revaluación
mer.
discursiva de lo histórico” that is cenDr. Juan Carlos Hernandez Cuevas, tered on Latin American and PeninsuAssistant Professor of Spanish, pub- larthLiterature. He also attended the
12 Annual International Hispanic Litlished two books entitled Grandes
narradores del exilio espanol en Mexico erary Conference on March 13, 2013 –
in 2012 and Crisis in 2013. He has also March 16, 2013 where he presented
published an article entitled “Ignacio his paper on the novel El muchacho de
Ramirez: El Nigromante” in the Dic- los senos de soma by Sylvia Iparraguirre.
tionary of Caribbean and Afro-Latin
American Biography and a chapter enTaking The Next Steps: English
titled “El influjo artistico hispanico” in
Graduates’
Accomplishments and
a volume of Negritud: Journal of Afro
Endeavors
-Latin American Studies.
Dr. Kim Green, Assistant Professor By Jalesa Campbell
Our graduates from the Department of English and Foreign Languages are well on their way to accomplishing greater things beyond
the undergraduate academy. We are
proud and happy for them as they
embark on further journeys in life.
Mudiwa Pettus graduated as the
Top Honor Graduate in May 2013 and
is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in English with a focus in Rhetoric and Composition at The Pennsylvania State University.
Jessica Cooper is currently working
as a full-time Early Childhood Education Teacher in Charlotte, NC.
Jessica Corbin is currently working
with Richland One Schools, and doing
independent consulting on webdesigns and blogs.
Kidada Irick received a full graduate assistantship that covers her tuition and living expenses at Georgia
Southern University in Statesboro,
GA where she is enrolled in the Counselor Education Program and has a
concentration in School Counseling.
Tyrone Shealy is currently pursuing
his Master of Arts Degree in Teaching
at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MA.
It is encouraging to see our peers
advancing in their pursuits and we
wish them the best in their endeavors
as they help to contribute to the lives
of others.
Newsletter Staff
Editors
Jalesa Campbell, English Major
Shakera West, English Major
Faculty Contributors
Dr. Mitali Wong, Professor of English
Ms. Sharon Gile, Instructor of English
Layout and Design
Jalesa Campbell, English Major
Taryn Hargove, Mass Communications Major
(Photographs provided by Dr. Mitali Wong,
Shakera West, Celena Snoddy, Jessica
Corbin, and Jalesa Campbell)