Sigma Tau Delta will issue its annual edition of The Scarab, a creative anthology, in April.
Sigma Tau Delta, OCU’s chapter of the international English honor society, creates this publication to showcase the immense talents of OCU students.
The Scarab contains a variety of art pieces, including short stories, life stories, screenplays, stage plays, excerpts, and visual art.
The anthology represents several OCU traditions through its art and even its name. In the early years of the university, before the Stars or the Chiefs, OCU’s mascot was a scarab beetle.
When the school decided to adopt the Stars title, Sigma Tau Delta tied the two mascots together, naming the publication after the scarabs and filling it with works by OCU students.
Most of the submissions come from undergraduate students, but graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni are also eligible to enter.
After its formation, 60-100 copies of The Scarab are printed and sold for $5 – $10, showcasing the artistic pieces for everyone at OCU, as well as the community outside the university.
“Having an anthology like The Scarab says we are the crème de la crème, and this is the level at which we perform,” said Ashley Dougherty, English senior and Editor-in-Chief of The Scarab. “I believe this boosts student morale and shows that the students here have minds, voices, and spirits that are made up of something special and powerful.”
Since its creation, The Scarab has gained fame for the university, earning the English society’s 2003 award for best literary anthology in the nation.
After choosing the works to include in the literary magazine, a panel of professors anonymously choose one outstanding selection within each category.
“The Scarab brings together a great many otherwise random people from different majors and backgrounds, and it gives them a reason to get to know each other,” said Jordan Pierce, cell and molecular biology senior and author of last year’s outstanding poetry selection.
“Being a part of that is just as awesome and rewarding as seeing my work published. I count myself lucky to have been published in The Scarab, and I hope many people submit writing and art this year.”
For more information about The Scarab or how to submit a work, contact ocuscarab@gmail.com.
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