The university’s English fraternity is now posting content online.
Sigma Tau Delta members created an online publication called The Amulet, which features poems and other pieces written by members of the group.
Chandler White, English junior and Sigma Tau Delta president, came up with the idea for the publication with help from English Professor Dr. Terry Phelps and Alumna Brandie McAllister.
The idea came from wanting to give members more opportunities to have their written work critiqued and published, White said.
“The students discussed wanting to do something more current and more regular,” Dr. Karen Schiler, associate English professor.
Before creating the publication, the group would share their writing and critique each other’s work.
“We would round-table someone’s writing, which basically means we would have somebody submit work, and then we would get together as a group to critique it,” White said.
The members had difficulty getting others to submit writing, so White said they came up with the incentive of an online publication for exposure.
“Online literature is part of the literary world now,” said Rob Roensch, associate English professor.
The publication went live on Aug. 21 and only features a few pieces of writing. The site will be updated as people begin submitting more work for publication.
Callie Dewees, acting junior and Sigma Tau Delta associate member, has already submitted some of her poems for publication. She said she enjoys having the opportunity to put her poems on The Amulet.
“The reason I was able to send Chandler some poems for the website is because I have spent this year writing a poem a day, and I have over 250 poems written so far,” Dewees said. “I think there are a lot of people on campus that are very interested in writing and literature that are not necessarily English majors.”
All students are encouraged to submit their work.
“This is an area where we can have students come together and read each other’s work, discuss literature and do what we love to do within a setting with other people who also love to do that,” Jordan Tarter, English junior and Sigma Tau Delta member, said.
Sigma Tau Delta is also working on a mini magazine called SHORTS, which was created by Madelyn Parker, English junior and member. It will include short poems and flash fiction, and will be distributed throughout campus. Anything that gets published in SHORTS will also be published online in The Amulet.
Sigma Tau Delta also produces The Scarab, a literary journal published each April that has been in circulation at OCU since 1920. The Scarab editors gather submissions from students on campus and reflect a year of writing and literature.
Dr. Terry Phelps, professor of English and sponsor of Sigma Tau Delta said the latest addition of The Scarab is available on The Amulet.
The Scarab and The Amulet are named after Egyptian symbols. The Scarab was named after one of the original OCU mascots, an Egyptian beetle or scarab. Sigma Tau Delta members wanted to continue the Egyptian theme with their online publication so they chose The Amulet, White said.
“Scarabs in Egyptian culture were generally worn as amulets on necklaces,” he said.
Sigma Tau Delta plans to include more fiction and nonfiction, poems, short stories, and plays in The Amulet and hopes the publication will continue to be used by members in the future.
“There’s a lot of energy in a literary journal like this, a lot of possibility, and we are really excited about it.” Roensch said.
Sigma Tau Delta has five official members and three associate members—students who participate in activities and meetings but can’t vote on official decisions. Members are working on recruitment.
Students interested in joining the fraternity as official can get an application from Phelps in Room 245 of Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. Students interested in joining as associate members can email White at cswhite@my.okcu.edu.
Sigma Tau Delta members plan to host poetry slams and movie nights. Members also plan to host three Poetry on Demand events per semester, where they write poetry based on student prompts. The first Poetry on Demand will be from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 21 in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.
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