The English club, small but growing

The English Club formed during the fall semester of the 2007-2008 school year. It started small, having only four officers, four dedicated members, and Christine Cusick, associate professor of English, as the faculty advisor.

By Bethany Bouchard

Staff Writer

The English Club formed during the fall semester of the 2007-2008 school year. It started small, having only four officers, four dedicated members, and Christine Cusick, associate professor of English, as the faculty advisor.

Jessie Pilewski, a junior and current vice president of the club said, “It has been revitalized…, but it is a relatively new club.”

The English Club meets once or twice every month for about an hour and has been hosting two or three events every semester. Sophomore and club president, Stephanie Wytovich, said, “At a typical meeting we go over old business, such as finding out how events went, and then we take on new business, such as upcoming events, and ongoing projects, such as the honor society, or ideas for the future (whether it be fund-raising or events). It’s a really useful time for us, since the club just formed, to find out what students liked and disliked and what they would like to see more of in the future.” Pilewski added that in addition to discussing possible events they also talk about “how we can provide services for the SHU community.”

The English Club’s events have a wide range of appeal to a variety of members in the Seton Hill University (SHU) community, not just English majors. In the past they have helped out with Make-A-Wish by having a table at the annual “Night on Haunted Hill” event for Halloween. They have also done a poetry reading, promoting genocide and Holocaust awareness through the sharing of literature, had a Thanksgiving story time for faculty and preschool children, and two events where Career Works came to talk with the members about what to do with an English degree.

Wytovich said, “Our ‘annual’ poetry reading was held on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Greensburg Room with a coffeehouse atmosphere.”

Pilewski said, “The open poetry night [provided] a very low key environment for students to share their work.” They are also working on planning a time to go up and read to the Sisters of Charity, as well as something to bring in a freelance author/journalist to speak to the club.

As a growing club, they are always looking for new members. They stress that the English Club is not just for English majors, and have even managed to recruit a couple non-English majors. Andrew Roberts, a senior majoring in music and theatre, said, “I think it’s a group that always has great ideas, and I’m always excited whenever I have a chance to help out with the club.”

They recruited several more members this year, and have had better turnouts with their events. The English faculty is also very supportive of the club’s efforts. “Our club is of course open to anyone who has a passion for reading and writing, regardless of major, and we are always looking for new members and new ideas,” said Piewski.

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