The Millikin University Literary Festival features two days of workshops, craft lectures, and readings. See the MU Literary Festival web site for more details. Please join us in these activities:
Friday, November 10
7:30-8:30 - Reading
8:30 - Collage Reading with music by Michael Cummings
Saturday, November 11
10-12:30pm - Workshops
1-2:30pm - Panel on Fiction Craft
3-4:30pm - Poetry Craft Lecture
5-6:00pm - Awards Reading
7:30-9pm - Faculty & Guests Reading
Wartime Decatur Presentation
On Sunday November 12, 2006, at 2PM in the Madden Auditorium of Decatur Public Library, Dr. Dan Guillory, Professor Emeritus of English at Millikin University, and author of Wartime Decatur: 1832-1945, will present a talk entitled “The Culture of Decatur in the World War One Years.”
The program will explore social and cultural issues affecting Decatur from 1917 to1919, including manpower shortages, the National Defense Council, the empowerment of women, War Bonds, patriotic parades, food and gas rationing, wartime hysteria and the endangerment of civil liberties, food and gas rationing, anti-Catholic and anti-German feeling, and, finally, the emotional closure provided by the funeral of war hero Sgt. Castle Williams, perhaps the largest public funeral in the city’s history. During these two years the citizens of Decatur rode an emotional and economic roller coaster, experiencing ups and downs on an almost daily basis.
Dr. Guillory has recently completed his sixth book, Macon County, which will be released by Arcadia Publishing on January 29, 2007.
Teaching Excellence Workshop
Catch the Buzz on Reflection
A Teaching Excellence Workshop
presented by
Dr. Carmella Braniger, Director of CWRR
Georgia Hornbacker, Associate Professor of Music
and
Greer Williams, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 @ 7-9pm
East Room, RTUC
In her closing remarks to faculty in May 2006, VPAA Dr. Jamie Comstock promised to take the summer to reflect on her experiences during her first year at Millikin so that she might come back to engage and energize us in our plans for Millikin’s future. Here at Millikin, we have highly qualified faculty, dedicated to our university-wide teaching goals, two of which are the integration of theory and practice and the use of student reflection.
What’s all this buzz about reflection? What is reflection? How do we practice reflection in our own teaching? And, more importantly, how do we teach our students to use reflection in order to enrich their learning experiences at Millikin and transform their lives?
Join Professor Georgia Hornbacker, Dr. Carmella Braniger and Undergraduate Research Fellow Greer Williams in a lively discussion of the theoretical and practical facets of reflection for both teaching and learning. Come catch the buzz . . .
African American Read-In Chain
On Monday, February 5, 2007, Millikin University students and faculty will join readers around the world in a reading marathon celebrating African American literature and literacy. The event is co-sponsored by the Black Student Union, the 2006-2007 Long-Vanderburg Scholars, and the Department of English.
In 1990, the first African American Read-In Chain was sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English. In 1991, the National Council of Teachers of English joined in the sponsorship. The Read-In has been endorsed by the International Reading Association. Over a million readers of all ethnic groups, from 49 states, the West Indies, and African countries have participated. The goal is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.
The Read-In will take place in the following locations:
10:00 a.m. to noon—Shilling Hall, ground-floor TV nook under the stairs
Noon to 3:00 p.m.—Common Grounds, featuring African American children’s books from 2:00 to 3:00
To participate in the Read-In, contact Michelle Bester <mbester@mail.millikin.edu>. You may sign up to read from your favorite African American author or to just listen and enjoy. Books by African American authors will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Bring a friend, stay as long as you can, and come as often as you like.
Further information about the Eighteenth National African American Read-In Chain is available on the National Council of Teachers of English web site, www.ncte.org/prog/readin
Millikin contact information:
Black Student Union: Nadja Jackson <najackson@mail.millikin.edu>
English Department: Anne Matthews <ammatthews@mail.millikin.edu>
Macon County History Presentation
On Sunday February 11, 2007, at 2PM in the Madden Auditorium of Decatur Public Library, Dr. Dan Guillory, Professor Emeritus of English at Millikin University, and author of Macon County, which is scheduled for release by Arcadia Publishing on January 29, 2007, will present a talk entitled “Macon County Remembered."
This presentation will focus on the patterns of social bonding and community-building that helped to create Macon County as we know it today, an area of nearly 600 square miles with 15 towns and villages. Dr. Guillory will discuss the following important themes: (1) families, especially as shown in family reunions and “multigenerational” family portraits; (2) church congregations, with special attention to the Methodists and the Cumberland Presbyterians; (3) clubs and athletic teams, including book groups, garden clubs, YWCA and YMCA teams, high school football teams, and groups like the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; (4) railroads and depots, especially after 1854 when the Great Western (Wabash) R. R. arrived from the west and the Illinois Central from the North, creating the basic infrastructure of the county; (5) the symbiosis that existed between the county seat of Decatur and the important communities of Maroa and Warrensburg, each of which boasted an opera house at the turn of the century.
This presentation will be based on Dr. Guillory’s newest book, Macon County, which is scheduled for release by Arcadia Publishing on January 29, 2007. Dr. Guillory is the author of five previous books, including Living With Lincoln: Life and Art in the Heartland and Images of America: Decatur. Signed copies of Macon County will be available after the presentation.
Diversity Week Forum
"Enlisting Humor to Challenge Hate: Come on Down to South Park and Meet Some Friends of Mine"
Priscilla Meddaugh and Daniel Richards, presenters
April 2, 2007
7:30pm @ Parquet Room, RTUC
A lecture and discussion, featuring clips from "South Park"
"Organizations that monitor extremist groups warn of increases of activity and violence associated with hate....With an increased intolerance of the 'other' in contemporary society, it is our obligation as educators to investigate new avenues in challenging hate..." —Dr. Priscilla Meddaugh
Can humor help heal hate? Come to an enlightening presentation and challenge yourself to find out! Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs as part of Diversity Week! For more information, call 362-6411.
Poetry Month Reading
To celebrate Poetry Month, the English Department, Bronze Man Books, and the Decatur Area Arts Council are hosting a poetry reading at the downtown DAAC.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
6:30pm • Decatur Area Arts Council
Millikin University readers include:
Carmen Aravena
Carmella Braniger
Randy Brooks
Jeremy Davault
Stephen Frech
Ryan Hosler
Natalie Perfetti
Josh Wild
This event includes the premeire reading of Mathematics of Fire by author Josh Wild. Come meet the author of Mathematics of Fire on Thursday, April 12 at the Decatur Area Arts Council building. You will also be able to get your signed copy of Mathematics of Fire by Josh Wild.
Bronze Man Books Release Party
Author Josh Wild ('06), along with Bronze Man Books, will be officially releasing his new poetry chapbook, Mathematics of Fire. Join us at Blue Connection's After 5 Live from 5:00-8:00pm on Friday, April 13th! Josh Wild ('06) reads from his new chapbook of poetry, Mathematics of Fire, at the April 13 After Five Live event downtown at the Blue Connection and the Decatur Area Arts Council. To order a copy of this book or for more details about the reading, see the Bronze Man Books web site. Laura Podeschi will also be attending to sign copies of her new book, Ants in the Band Room.
Friday, April 13, 2007
5-8pm • Blue Connetion
Honors in English
Presentation by Daniel Richards
“Drawing Conclusions: Framework, theory and research for a collegiate level course on visual rhetoric in American animated cartoons”
Wednesday, May 9
3:30PM
Shilling Hall 303
Abstract: Cartoons provide not only entertainment for audiences of all ages but also political and social commentary through underlying stereotypes, propaganda, hidden meanings, socio-economic context and witty dialogue. From Bug Bunny's Tokio Jokio, which shows the "inferiority" of the Japanese in World War II, to Captain Planet, where the main characters fight the evils of pollution and capitalism, cartoons are powerful tools used to indoctrinate or, at least, influence viewers. This course examines the visual rhetoric of American animated cartoons focusing on images of race, gender, class and sexuality. Students are asked to examine these representations using several critical theories, historical perspectives and their personal experiences.
Writing Center is Open Afternoons & Evenings and Announces the Fall 2006 Workshops!
The Writing Center opened September 5, 2006. The fall schedule is:
Sundays 6-10 p.m.
M-Th 1-10 p.m.
Call or email for an appointment:
424-6353 or email at
wcenter@mail.millikin.edu
The Writing Center
Fall 2006 Workshops
Oct. 2 7:00 p.m.: APA Documentation Style (SH315)
Oct. 4 7:00 p.m.: "I don't know what to write about!” Brainstorming/Thesis (SH315)
Oct. 18 7:00 p.m.: "Are those your words?" Avoiding Plagiarism (SH315)
Nov. 1 7:00 p.m.: "So how do I cite this?" Earning Maximum Points For your Impeccable MLA Documentation (SH315)
Dec. TBA: “Yikes! Finals!” Dealing with Test Anxiety
English Faculty Workshops
English faculty join together for workshops
to share teaching methods, pedagogical expertise and to
improve the quality of English courses and the curriculum
at Millikin.
Oct 9, 2006 @ 4:00-6:00 p.m. Mac Lab on English majors assessment
Apr 2, 2007 @ 4:00-6:00 p.m. Mac Lab workshop on immersion teaching
The Millikin University Literary Festival will be November 10-11, 2006. See the MU Literary Festival web site for details.
Wartime Decatur Presentation
Sunday, November 12, 2006 at 2pm in the Madden Auditorium of the Decatur Public Library, Dr. Dan Guillory, Professor Emeritus of English at Millikin University will present a talk on "The Culture of Decatur IN the World War One Years."
Teaching Excellence Workshop
Dr. Carmella Braniger, Director of CWRR
Georgia Hornbacker, Associate Professor of Music, and Greer Williams, Undergraduate Research Fellow present a teaching excellence workshop on the use of reflection in teaching and learning.
Catch the Buzz on Reflection
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
7:00pm • East Room, RTUC
African American Read-In
February 5, 2007 Millikin University students and faculty will join readers around the world in a reading marathon celebrating African American literature.
10-Noon • Shilling Hall TV Nook
Noon-3 • Common Grounds
Macon County History Presentation
Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 2pm in the Madden Auditorium of the Decatur Public Library, Dr. Dan Guillory, Professor Emeritus of English at Millikin University will present a talk on "Macon County Remembered."
Diversity Forum
"Enlisting Humor to Challenge Hate: Come on Down to South Park and Meet Some Friends of Mine"
Priscilla Meddaugh and Daniel Richards, rescheduled for April 2, 2007 at 7:30pm in the Parquet Room, Lower RTUC.
Poetry Month Reading
To celebrate Poetry Month, the English Department, Bronze Man Books, and the Decatur Area Arts Council are hosting a poetry reading at the downtown DAAC. Millikin University readers include:
Carmen Aravena
Carmella Braniger
Randy Brooks
Jeremy Davault
Stephen Frech
Ryan Hosler
Natalie Perfetti
Josh Wild
Thursday, April 12, 2007
6:30pm • Decatur Area Arts Council
Josh Wild ('06) reads his new chapbook of poetry, Mathematics of Fire, at the April 13 After Five Live event downtown at the Blue Connection and the Decatur Area Arts Council.
Friday, April 13, 2007
5-8pm • Blue Connetion
Honors in English
Presentation by Daniel Richards
“Drawing Conclusions: Framework, theory and research for a collegiate level course on visual rhetoric in American animated cartoons”
Wednesday, May 9
3:30 pm
Shilling Hall 303
Global Haiku Class Reading
Come to the Spring 2007 Global Haiku class reading for breakfast refreshments and excellent haiku & renga. This reading includes one of our top English majors, Cindie Zelhart, English Department Secretary.
Faculty Forum
On Sunday November 12, 2006, at 2PM in the Madden Auditorium of Decatur Public Library, 
