2015 EGSO Conference - Call for Papers

Virginia Tech’s English Graduate Student Organization Presents:

A Conference on Language/Knowledge/Power

Saturday, March 28th, 2015

Shanks Hall, Blacksburg, VA

The English Graduate Student Organization of Virginia Tech welcomes papers and presentations related to this year’s conference theme: Language/Knowledge/Power.

The relationship between language, knowledge, and power is evident in a variety of contexts. For example, a dominant social group in a community can perpetuate its power through language/discourse conventions. Through such conventions, dominant groups can exercise control over knowledge, making it difficult for other marginalized groups to acquire knowledge. Thus, while language may seem neutral, it can actually function to reinforce social hierarchies and inhibit knowledge acquisition. This power dynamic isn’t restricted to one sphere; rather, it permeates throughout literature, theatre, textbooks, media, technical documents, etc.

We invite scholarly and creative submissions that explore the interplay of language, knowledge and/or power in society. Language manifests in many different media, so projects may encompass verbal, literary, visual, or multimodal subjects. Proposals may consider, but are not limited to, the following questions:

1)    How does language resist or submit to structures of power?

2)    What relationships exist between knowledge and power? 

3)    How do language and knowledge enable the performance of power?

4)    How might classroom instructors consider literacies of power in their instruction?

5)    What kinds of knowledges are built in everyday language exchanges?

6)    How does the relationship between language, knowledge, and/or power manifest itself in literature?

7)    How does the relationship between language, knowledge, and/or power in literature address thoughts, anxieties, concerns, etc. of a particular time period?

Proposals for individual papers should not exceed 250 words. Multi-paper panel proposals are welcome and should include separate abstracts for each individual paper. Please submit abstracts to vt.egso@gmail.com by January 15th, 2015. Please include your name, institutional affiliation, field of study, and any technology requests.

Those selected will be notified via e-mail by February 15, 2015.

2014 Welcome Picnic!

Since the new semester will be starting in a little under two weeks, I want to introduce everyone (new and old) to the Virginia Tech English Graduate Student Organization (EGSO) blog! This blog was created about three years ago to provide information for a graduate conference hosted by our department. We didn't have a conference last year, but I'm hoping we'll be able to have one during the spring semester this coming year. I want to have an interest meeting sometime at the beginning of this semester, so I'll provide more details once I know more.

To kick off the new year and to allow everyone to start getting to know each other better, EGSO will host a welcome picnic on Thursday, August 21st. The details for the picnic are below:

Where: Blacksburg Municipal Park, Shelter #1 (The address given for the shelter is 920 Turner Street NE.)
Date and time: Thursday, August 21st, 4:30 p.m. to dark
Who's invited: New and returning graduate students, faculty, and staff; you can also bring friends/significant others if you'd like!
Food: I'm still planning out the details, but I know for sure that we will have hamburgers/cheeseburgers, hot dogs, black bean burgers, chips with Katie Garahan's awesome homemade guacamole, and a few different pies for dessert. And of course various beverages. You can bring a dish of your own if you'd like, but don't feel like you have to.

Directions:
Head towards the traffic circle on North Main Street. Once you get onto the traffic circle, exit towards the office buildings on the right and continue down North Main Street for about a mile until you get to Patrick Henry Drive. There will be a light with a 7-Eleven on the corner. Turn right at this light and then take your first right onto Giles Road. Then, take your first left onto Turner Street NE. You will then see a parking lot to your left. Park here, and walk across the street to the shelter.

I hope that you all can make it!

CFP Reminder + Keynote Speaker

The English Graduate Student Conference "Re-envision, Re-formation, Re-creation" is rapidly approaching on February 25th. The deadline for paper and creative works proposals is January 15th.

We are proud to announce that Dr. Jasbir Puar from Rutgers University will be providing this year’s keynote address.

Please revisit the CFP here and consider presenting at this great professional development opportunity!

EGSO Announces Travel Scholarships

The English Graduate Student Organization is pleased to sponsor two travel scholarships for graduate students this year. One award will be for the 2012 Association of Writers & Writing Programs conference (AWP), and the other is for the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCCs).

Both awards will be approximately $290 to cover hotel and transportation expenses. To apply for the scholarships, please fill out the attached application and submit the completed form and supplementary information to EGSO's gmail account (VT dot EGSO) by January 15th, 2012. Please direct any questions to the same email.

VT MFA Poetry Winners Announced

Congratulations to Rob Kenagy, whose poem “End Notes” has won the Virginia Tech/Poetry Society of Virginia Award, sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. MFA writers Michael Roche and James Stolen placed, respectively, as first and second runners-up. 

Rob’s poem will earn him a small cash award, the amount of which will be determined by the Academy of American Poets.

Rob and Michael both will be nominated for the 2012 Best New Poets anthology from the University of Virginia Press. Nominated poets get to submit two poems each to Best New Poets, which showcases the work of 50 emerging writers each year.

Virginia Tech will also nominate all three poems for the 2012 Intro Journals Project, an annual competition from the Associated Writing Programs. Eventual winners of the Intro competition will receive an award letter, publication, and a $100 honorarium.

The judge for this year's competition was Susan B. A. Somers-Willett (who visits Virginia Tech next spring for a reading). All poems entered in the competition were submitted to her in standard format, without any information to identify the author. 

Congratulations again to Rob, Michael, and James.  We know you’ll do a great job representing Tech!

VT MFA Fiction Winner Announced

Congratulations to Kedon Willis, who has won the Virginia Tech Fiction Prize for his short story “Sat’day.”  Mark Derks and Sandra M. Yee placed, respectively, as first and second runners-up. 

Kedon’s story will earn him a small cash award, and Virginia Tech will also nominate his story for the 2012 Intro Journals Project, an annual competition from the Associated Writing Programs. Eventual winners of the Intro competition will receive an award letter, publication, and a $100 honorarium.

The judge for this year's competition was John Dufresne (who visits Virginia Tech next spring for a reading).  All stories entered in the competition were submitted to him in standard format, without any information to identify the author. 

Congratulations again to Kedon.  We know you’ll do a great job representing Tech!

EGSO Conference - Call for Papers

The Virginia Tech English Graduate Student Organization is now accepting proposals for the 2012 conference "Re-envision, Re-formation, Re-creation" on February 25, 2012. EGSO welcomes proposals for paper, panels, and creative works that challenge preconceptions, explore neglected or newly discovered areas, rethink assumptions, and ultimately create new knowledge.

Please submit your 250-500 word abstract for a 20-minute paper in .doc, .docx, or .rtf format as an email attachment through EGSO's gmail account (VT dot EGSO) by January 15th, 2012. Creative works should include a short, descriptive abstract and a sample of the work to be considered. In your email, please include your name, affiliation, email address, phone number, title of paper, and a brief biographical statement. However, do not include your name on the abstract itself.

For more information, please look through the conference pages to the right or contact EGSO President Kaitlin Clinnon through EGSO's gmail account (VT dot EGSO). This is a great professional opportunity for graduate students, so we hope to have many submissions!

VT/Hollins Joint MFA Reading November 12th

Please join us in welcoming Hollins students in this second year of joint readings between our two prestigious MFA programs.

Connecting Ridges

Virginia Tech & Hollins MFA Reading Series

Saturday, November 12, 2011
6:30 p.m.

Ceritano’s Ristorante
428 N. Main St.
Blacksburg, VA

This Fall 2011 reading features:

• Matthew Bishop (Hollins)
• Khalilah Boone (VT)
• Brandon Courtney (Hollins)
• Mark Derks (VT)
• S.H. Lohmann (Hollins)
• Courtney Robb (Hollins)

Come with a big appetite for Ceritano’s wood-fired pizzas and great prose and poetry from emerging writers!

EGSO Conference - Organizers Needed

EGSO is pleased to announce that our annual graduate conference will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 2012. The theme this year is an interdisciplinary understanding of "Revise, Remix, Recreate," and we'll be sending the call for papers out shortly. 

At this point we’re asking for assistance in organizing the conference. It takes a lot of work to plan a conference, and we appreciate all the help we can get! We have several committees set up to organize specific parts of the conference:

Panels Committee

• Write "Call for Papers" notice
• Read abstracts
• Determine panels
• Select papers
• Choose panel chairs
• Schedule panel time table
• Get necessary information to Communications Committee

Logistics Committee

• Secure rooms in Shanks for conference
• Set up and break down conference rooms
• Arrange for A/V equipment
• Manage panel presentations to help with A/V equipment

Hospitality Committee

• Organize breakfast
• Organize lunch
• Ensure availability of water throughout the day
• Man registration table/secure tags for everyone
• Generate checklist of hospitality tasks

Communications Committee

• Design/update flyer
• Develop registration form
• Design/update website
• Design/produce signage

If you want to be part of any conference committee, send an email to EGSO’s gmail account (VT dot EGSO) with your preference, and we'll contact you with more information.

Not only is organizing the EGSO conference a lot of fun, but it also is a great line on your CV.

Fall Book Fair

EGSO will be hosting the fall semester book fair on Tuesday October 11th from 10am to 3:30pm in Shanks 370/380.

We will have representatives from Pearson, Bedford St. Martin, and Cengage there to answer all textbook related questions.

For those of you who haven't been to a book fair before, this is a great opportunity to peruse the selection of composition books that exist (and there are tons!) and order desk copies.

Plus there's going to be free coffee and snacks. Books, coffee, and snacks, what more could you want? Feel free to contact EGSO through our gmail account (VT dot EGSO) for more information.

September Social @ The River Mill

Hopefully the first few weeks of your semester have been going well. EGSO would like to invite you to relax and socialize next Thursday, September 22 at the River Mill for the first social of the semester!

EGSO will sponsor get-togethers such as this one about once a month, and it is an opportunity for PhDs, MAs, and MFAs to all get together. We will host this event at the River Mill from 6-8 p.m. Drinks will not be provided, but good conversation and people will! Please come out!

Stay tuned for updates concerning the October gathering, "Shanksgiving" in November, and a social in December. Hope to see you all soon!

EGSO Welcome Picnic

The English Graduate Student Organization is kicking off what promises to be another fantastic school year with a welcome picnic.

When: Friday August 19th, 5 to 8pm

Where: Tom's Creek Park (2100 Tom's Creek Road, about 1/4 mile past the 460 bypass on Tom's Creek)

Who: New and returning graduate students, faculty, staff, as well as guests

Food: EGSO will provide delicious food from Due South BBQ, vegetarian options, and drinks  
RSVP by Wednesday August 17th to EGSO’s gmail account (VT dot EGSO) with number attending and any special diet accommodations

Returning students, faculty, and staff: We ask that you please bring a contribution to the picnic, such as a side dish, bag of chips, baked goods, napkins, etc. Any contribution will be greatly appreciated. Please include what you plan to bring when you RSVP.