Clubs and Pubs

Clubs

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

As a part of Sigma Tau Delta, the National Literature Honor Society, UNC Asheville's Eta Omicron chapter is a recently established Student Organization as of the Fall of 2012. In this short time as an organization, Sigma Tau Delta has organized a book drive for third world countries, created a t-shirt contest to advertise the club, while also raising funds to continue the event annually. One of the major projects taken on by the members of Sigma Tau Delta, has been re-vamping the literature student lounge, transforming the space into a more cozy and study-friendly atmosphere. Geared towards all literature students, this project has intended to also function as the mecca of learning for those preparing to take the comprehensive exam. Field trips to local authors' homes and end of the semester pizza celebrations at the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company are also things that members of Sigma Tau Delta will enjoy. Providing students with leadership opportunities through both the UNCA chapter, as well as nationally, Sigma Tau Delta is more than just a resume booster, it is a community of literature students wanting to make a difference in their department.

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.

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.

Awards and Scholarships

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

• 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
• the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize      

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  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.