Welcome to the blog for the Villanova English department! Visit often for updates on department events, guest speakers, faculty and student accomplishments, and reviews and musings from professors and undergraduates alike.

Friday, November 18, 2016

The Villanovan Seeks English Majors


The Villanovan is looking for talented and hardworking reporters, writers and copy editors for the 2017 term.

Benefits of working on a campus newspaper include, but are not limited to:
--the opportunity to have work published in print and on the paper's newly remodeled website (to be unveiled in January)
--develop writing, editorial and critical analysis skills
--develop a higher awareness of campus events and news
--contribute to a 100-year-old tradition of journalistic excellence

The Villanovan staff is valued and respected by faculty and students alike.  Half-hour weekly staff meetings take place on Tuesday evenings (with the exception of Copy Desk editors, who come in on Monday evenings).

The current Editors in Chief are Claire Hoffman and Deanna Passaretti.  Feel free to reach out to them with any questions or concerns you might have!

Applications are due the Monday after Thanksgiving Break, November 28.  The application can be found here.


Thursday, November 17, 2016

Post-Election Letter to English Majors from the Department

Dear English Majors:

We, the faculty of the English Department, join our voices to Fr. Peter’s and those of other administrators, faculty, and students, to express dismay and anger at reports of hateful speech and actions toward members of the University community in the aftermath of the election last week.  As scholars of literature, we are deeply committed to the power of language to advance justice and equality, and we understand that silence may function to implicitly condone violence and suffering.  In this spirit, we state emphatically that we stand with all students who have been targets of harassment, acknowledging the acute nature of threats made towards students of color and women of all races.  We also wish to reaffirm the incalculable importance of inclusion to this institution and its mission.

As always, we invite every student to treat our classes as secure places to freely discuss literature, ideas, and the historic moment we all find ourselves in.  We welcome lively debate and the respectful exploration of all points of view that honor the basic principle of human equality.  We also remind you that our Majors Lounge is open to you throughout the week.  We are happy to meet with you should you have any concerns about your experience in our classrooms or on campus.

Sincerely,

Heather Hicks
Evan Radcliffe
Lisa Sewell
Chiji Akoma
Karyn Hollis
Crystal J. Lucky
Travis Foster
Megan Quigley
Jean Lutes
Alice Dailey
Michael Berthold
Lauren Shohet
Joseph Lennon
Jody Ross
Alan Drew
Brooke Hunter
Cecilia Ready
Kamran Javadizadeh
Charles Cherry
Jennifer Joyce
Ruth Anolik
Jeffrey Silverman
Karen Graziano
Robert Duggan
Jill Kress Karn
Gail Ciociola
Mary Mullen
Joseph Drury
Ellen Bonds
Catherine Staples
Mary Beth Simmons
Hugh Ormsby-Lennon
Margaret Boerner
Cathy Velez








Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Marissa Lotoya: Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise.

Recent Villanova English graduate Marissa Lotoya has been employed as a researcher for a production company that makes documentaries for PBS.   A four-part, four-hour documentary she worked on, Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise, is premiering tonight on PBS at 8:00 pm.  The first half airs tonight, and the second half on Nov. 22.



Friday, November 11, 2016

A Tale of Two Cities Marathon Reading

Please note:  The marathon reading has been postponed until the spring semester.  


Thursday, November 3, 2016

English Outdoors

In honor of the unseasonably beautiful November weather, Prof. Michael Berthold's English classes met outdoors yesterday.

English 4001, Major American Writers 1, ready to discuss Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
English 4520, The American Novel to 1895, engrossed in Julia Collins' The Curse of Caste;  or, The Slave Bride

Locker Room Talk


Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Africana Studies Lecture: Helon Habila, "The Future of the African Novel"


Sports Illustrated Internship

As you probably know, the English department and Sports Illustrated have a special partnership by which one English major each semester has the opportunity to work in New York for Sports Illustrated, in a paid internship position that also earns you 9 or 12 credits.



For details, see the announcement below.  Applications for the spring 2017 semester are due on Monday, November 21.  And read about other English major SI interns Nelson Rice, Angie Matarozzi and Larry Flynn!