Newspapers / Methodist University Student Newspaper / Jan. 30, 1991, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page2 SMALLTALK January 30,1991 Novelist Visits For Writer’s Day by Sherry L. Overton On Jan. 21, Methodist College held a Writers' Day program for local high school students. The purpose of this event was to heighten student awareness about the importance of clear written communication. The program included writing workshops targeted for those high school students who are planning to attend college or desire to enter profes sions that require excellent writing skills. 66 students from Cumberland County and surrounding counties registered for the conference. The day was filled with workshops, lectures and readings. The honored guest for the program was Jill McCorkle, a North Carolina novelist. To date Ms. McCorkle has had four books published, July 7th, The Cheerleader, Tending to Virginia, and Ferris Beach, her latest re lease. Ms, McCorkle is a Lumberton na tive who now teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she also received her degree. She read from her most recently published book and then provided information for the students about her personal writing expe riences. Ms. McCorkle's fiction writing deals with adolescence and the sense of inse curity this period brings to young lives. Although her works are fictional she sets them in the 1970's amidst the real life transitions and social tensions of that decade. She said, a professor once told her that most people try to forget adoles cence, but she prefers to bring those memories back. She said that she enjoys writing about the young because they possess "an honesty that eventually grows out of us through sophistication Protest from Page 1 and intellect." In summing up, Ms. McCorkle said with a little laugh that fic tion was her "license to lie." The students were obviously amused, and they ap plauded her. After Ms. McCorkle's presentation the individual workshops began. These were taught by the Methodist College English and Communications Department facul ty. The writing areas that were focused on ranged from short fiction to visual me dia to business. In each of the workshops students were required to write brief pieces, and, at the end of the day, the best from each class was rewarded with a prize certificate and a check for S25.00. At the introduction to the awards cere mony, four Methodist College students read pieces of their own works, several of which had won national awards. Those students who read their works were Ka thy Griffith, John Hawkins, Pam John son, and Ann Morris. Following these readings. Dr. Sue Kimball talked briefly about the southern writers she has known and told some amusing anecdotes. The finale for the day's events was the awards presentation. The winners of the individual workshops were Bobby Albert from E.E. Smith in Short Fiction, Cori Carlisle from Terry Sanford in Writing for the Visual Media, Gene Parris of Pine Forest in Literary Essay Writing, Drew Norris of Terry Sanford in Poetry, Marisa Roach from Westover in Business Writ ing, and Dorimae Endicott from E.E. Smith in Non-Literary Essay Writing. The day's events were a great success, reflecting the hard work and efforts of the participating students and of the Methodist College English and Commu nications Departments. 1 J if i Ht n> Jill McCorkle reads from one of her novels. Happenings Around Campus by Eric Kimbel The editor and staff of Small Talk feel that it is necessary to keep its readers in formed of events on campus. This issue of Small Talk is the first to include this column. Small Talk has always kept the campus community aware of sporting events and other important happenings: now there will be a section devoted to ac ademic events, contests and outstanding achievements. We hope you enjoy and use this column to your benefit. administration that students care about the campus ministry. She also said that members of the SGA and the Christian Life Council are sending letters of protest to members of the Board of Trustees and that a petition is being circulated which will also be presented to the Board. Campus Minister, the Rev. Claire Cly- bum, was not present at the demonstra tion because of a family emergency. However, she said in an earlier interview that her strongest feeling about the elimi nation of the minister's position was dis- appoinUTient. "I know what it means to the students that I work with that we have this," she said. "It disappoints me that the administration sees this as ex pendable." :v Dan Covell questions President Hendricks at demonstration. Dr. R. Wayne Preslar, English Depart ment, is forming a Quiz Bowl team for competition at Elon this semester. The team has financial support for the up coming 1991-92 school year and is offer ing scholarships for incoming freshmen. For more information on the tournament and team contact Dr. Preslar, office T- 233, exL 314. The Theatre Department of Methodist College is holding a playwriting contest this semester. The contest is open to all students, and the deadline for submis sions is Feb. 1. For more information contact Dr. John Peyrouse, office R-124, ext. 212. The Methodist College debate team is planning to compete in two tournaments this semester. It also has the same finan cial backing for the 1991-92 school year as the Quiz Bowl team. For details, con tact Dr. John Sill, department of sociolo gy, office T-118, ext. 292. There are many writing contests tak ing place this semester. Contact Dr. Mi chael Colonnese for information on how to enter these contests. Tapestry, the art and literary publica tion of Methodist College, is also accept ing student authors' work for considera tion in its upcoming edition. Tapestry recently won local renown for this year's publication in the Fayetteville Observer- Times. For more information, contact John Hawkins or Dr. Michael Colonnese. If you have any contests or events that should be included in this column, please contact one of the following: Caroline Kearns, editor: Eric Kimbel, and Dr. Robert Perkins, office T-227, ext. 293.
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