Clubs and Pubs

Appalachian Spring

The camaraderie of an off campus outing to Madison County, the setting for "Moon Women," by Pamela Duncan, enhanced Erica Abrams Locklear's Spring 2011 Appalachian Literature class experience.The author joined the class to tour a cemetery that is central to the novel and chatted with the students. Dinner and a bluegrass jam completed the excursion.                                                        

Awards and Scholarships

The Department awards a variety of writing prizes annually for essays, fiction, poetry, and drama, including:

•  the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize

  

• the Carl Sandburg Poetry Prize
• the Francis P. Hulme Drama Prize
• the Wilma Dykeman Award for University Writing
• the Jeff Rackham Award
• the Comfort Scholarship
• the Topp/Grillot Scholarship
• the Olivia J. Gudger First-Year Writing Award
• the Gullickson Award to the outstanding rising senior
• the Bryan Award for best senior paper                                                       

Internships

In recent semesters, students have completed internships at Lark Books, Mechanic Studios, the Asheville Citizen Times, and other local publications. For the most current information about internships available to Literature and Language majors, see Dr. Gary Ettari, 237 Karpen Hall, or contact him at gettari@unca.edu.

Publications

Headwaters, published annually, is the Creative Arts Magazine of UNC Asheville. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art. Specific information about submission and publication dates can be found online. 

Metabolism is the student-generated tabloid of creative expression. UNC Asheville's newest publication collects and publishes poetry, short stories, essays, comics, photographs and drawings, under the slogan "Art without pants." Find us also on Facebook.

Eben Fenton, Leah Shapiro, Sarah Hinson, Danny Resner, Jim Driggers, and Molly Russell prepare the next issue.

Other Activities

Sponsoring a variety of public readings and presentations by noted authors and critics, the department provides both the campus and the surrounding community with access to stimulating thinkers. The faculty vigorously supports UNC Asheville’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning by contributing to programs such as Honors, Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, Africana Studies, Religious Studies, and ILS colloquia, Arts and Humanities.

The Great Smokies Writing Program provides opportunities for UNC Asheville students and members of the community to work on the craft of writing in workshops and seminars. Contact information and details of the program are available online.

Literature Club

The Literature Club welcomes all students interested in the study of literature and language, meets to exchange ideas, sponsors visiting writers and literary scholars, and arranges student-faculty parties to advance the camaraderie of the department.

Sigma Tau Delta

A UNC Asheville chapter of Sigma Tau Delta is in the works. Dr. Boyle is advising. The central purpose of the International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. While members of the UNCA local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, Eta Omicron, enjoy the benefits of belonging to the international society, they also help organize and promote cultural and preprofessional opportunities at UNCA and in the Asheville community that concern all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing. UNCA Literature and Language majors and minors interested in joining Sigma Tau Delta should contact Dr. Kirk Boyle at kboyle@unca.edu.

There will be a Sigma Tau Delta Facebook page, aimed at publicizing cultural and professional opportunities and fostering a sense of community among UNC Asheville Literature and Language majors and minors.