English

The Literary Society was formed as the Harold Frederic English Society  in the fall semester of 1999 to offer students both inside and outside the English major the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the literary and creative life of the college. It was originaLLY named in honor of the Utica native and noted nineteenth-century American novelist who chronicled the city's religious and ethnic groups at the turn of the century in his acclaimed novel The Damnation of Theron Ware. James Scannell, Associate Professor in the English department, is the club's faculty advisor.

In the past, the Society has hosted at Halloween a "Scary Poetry Reading" in which members of the club, the college community, and the greater Utica community read their favorite frightening verse by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Browning. The Society was also influential raising funds to buy books for the Breakfast Reading Club, a reading program for young children at Kernan Elementary School in West Utica. 

The Literary Society puts on open mics, does community service around literacy, and has one literary themed outing a year. Meetings are weekly.

Those interested in participating should contact Professor James Scannell at
 

Membership Requirements

For induction into the Utica College chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honors society, the English Department's criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Completion of two college courses in English language or literature beyond freshman courses (i.e., beyond those at the 100-level).
• A minimum 3.5 GPA in English and Literature courses, and a 3.0 GPA overall.
• Completion of 3 semesters of college course work, 2 at Utica College.
• Good character demonstrated through consistent adherence to the principles of academic honesty and professional behavior as defined in the Utica College Student Code of Conduct.

To learn more about Sigma Tau Delta, please visit http://www.english.org/sigmatd/

A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year by a resident of upstate New York. The winner will also give a reading and teach a master class at Utica College in April 2022. Submit two copies of a book of at least 48 pages published between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, and a curriculum vitae by August 31.

Competition Details

Prize: $2,000
For best poetry collection published by an Upstate author.

Submission Deadline:
August 31, 2021

Entry Fee:
There is no entry fee.

Final Judge:
(To be announced.)

ENTRY FORM

Entry Instructions:
Send completed entry form, a brief CV listing creative and scholarly accomplishments, and two (2) copies of the work to:

Gary Leising
Utica College
School of Arts and Sciences
1600 Burrstone Road
Utica, NY 13502
 

**NOTE: Books may be sent in by author or publisher.

Submission Criteria:
Submitted work must be a book of poems in English, at least 48 pages long, published between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 by a resident of Upstate New York. Collections by more than one author, "collected" or "selected" volumes, collections of translations, self-published works, and vanity press publications are not eligible.

Additional Requirements:
Winner must agree, upon contest entry:

• to give permission for portions of the winning work to be reproduced for publicity; and
• to, at a mutually agreeable date in April 2022, 1) receive the award in person, 2) give a reading at Utica College, and 3) meet with students in a master class.

All books entered in competition will be donated to the Utica College library and the Utica Public Library.