EGSA DIGEST: Important Info for ALL English Grad Students

Dear English Graduate Students,
After a long summer, I know you have been yearning for cooler weather, the happy company of your fellow grad students, and, of course, the

EGSA Digest! This week, campus came alive with students new and old, the temperature returned to a slightly less fatal range, and now I am here to make your joy complete with the semester’s first digest of news, reminders, and resources for English graduate students.

This digest is a weekly service provided by the English Graduate Student Association (EGSA). EGSA works to advocate for grad students, to advance professional development, and to provide social events. Each week, in my capacity as EGSA Secretary, I compile announcements from the department ( our faculty advisors, GPD, office managers, faculty members, and others); GSA (Graduate Student Association); the Graduate School; individual students; and anyone else with information you need to know.

Since this is the first digest of the semester, we have lots to cover. Some of this information is especially for new students, some for students nearing graduation, but most of it applies to us all. Enjoy, and please email me (bethany_bear@baylor.edu) with any questions.

Secretarily yours, Bethany Bear

If you are an English grad student, you should…

COME to the first EGSA Meeting of the new school year, Wednesday, September 1, 9 AM, in G03. At this meeting you will meet your EGSA officers, learn more about EGSA’s purpose, discuss current questions about graduate timelines, hear about the upcoming lecture and conference EGSA is coordinating, learn about special study groups, and much more.

READ the attached brochure about EGSA’s purposes and goals. New students received this brochure during orientation, but returning students will also want to take a look at this excellent summary of EGSA’s work on behalf of grad students. Many thanks to Steve Petersheim for creating this brochure!

VOTE for an empty seat on the Conference Committee if you are a returning EGSA Member. Four of the five seats have been assigned according to the number of votes received in the original election:

Election Results: Nathan Kilpatrick

Rachel Webster Michael Milburn David Clark James Watson

However, since the receipt of these results, Michael Milburn has declined his election. Therefore, please send your vote for ONE of the following candidates. The winner of this election will take Michael’s place on the committee:

Lisa Echtenkamp Dustin Morrow Julie Ooms Margy Thomas

(I sent this ballot out over the summer, but due to poor timing most people were on vacation and did not vote. If you are one of the few people who did vote during the summer, please forgive me for asking you to re-submit your vote).

STUDY the attached list of dates if you are planning to graduate in December 2010 or May 2011. After reading it, thank Laura Bedwell for compiling this list.

EMAIL Steven Petersheim (steven_petersheim@baylor.edu) if you are graduating or taking prelims during this calendar year (Fall 2010-Summer 2011). He is collecting this information for Dr. Barcus and needs to know: graduation or prelims, semester anticipated, MA or PhD (if graduating).

TAKE NOTE of the following announcement regarding the Terence Hoagwood film and literature lecture:

In preparation for our film and literature lecture with Terence Hoagwood (of Texas A&M) this fall, Dr. Ferretter has agreed to host a Film Seminar Presentation for one of his Friday afternoon 20th Century Studies events. Dr. Kendrick from the film department (at Baylor) will be giving a talk/presentation entitled “Rethinking Speilberg.” Besides seeing/hearing an awesome presentation, you can prepare yourself for the lecture later this fall by attending this seminar. It will be on Friday, October 8, at 2:30 p.m., in the faculty lounge upstairs. Watch for more announcements – Dr. Ferretter will be inviting faculty and graduate students to this presentation

HIE YE TO HILLSBORO if you are interested in the following Renaissance Faire opportunity:

Anybody interested in attending Middlefaire, a Renaissance Faire that takes place in nearby Hillsboro between September 18th and October 3rd, should contact Adam Marshall (Adam_Marshall@baylor.edu or 330-265-1909) by September 11th (or, even better, ASAP). If there’s enough interest in a day of medieval mirth, revelry, and overt and unapologetic nerdiness, we’d love to plan a trip. Tickets are $12.

EMAIL Bethany Bear (bethany_bear@baylor.edu) if you have graduated and no longer wish to receive this digest. If you wish to stay on the list (and you are welcome to), consider emailing us all now and again to reassure the rest of us that yes, there is a light at the end of the grad school tunnel, and no, the light is not the headlight of a tractor-trailer.

PONDER this “Open Letter to New Grad Students,” from The Chronicle of Higher Education : http://chronicle.com/blogPost/An-Open- Letter-to-New-Graduate/26326/ Even seasoned veterans will probably find its advice helpful.

WATCH for future installments of the EGSA Digest, and feel free to email Bethany Bear (bethany_bear@baylor.edu) if you have announcements, ideas, questions, or concerns you would like to present to the graduate student community.