African American Literary Society (AALS)

The African American Literary Society welcomes all WIU students - particularly those who love reading and writing short stories, essays, plays, and poetry. Join us to expand your mind while exploring the African American culture with panels, movies, plays, songs, short stories, and discussions.

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Patricia Young

English Graduate Organization (EGO)

The English Graduate Organization represents all English graduate students and they are encouraged to get involved in some capacity.

Learn more about EGO

Benefits

• Provides a space for dialogue among graduate students and the graduate and writing committees, advocating for graduate curriculum in the English Department
• Networking opportunities with other English graduate organizations nationally and regionally
• Furthurs the work and interests of graduate students by providing assistance in areas of academic and professional development
• Allows students an opportunity to share thesis work with peers and faculty
• Participate in the planning of various events including the EGO conference
• Opportunity to present papers at the EGO conference
• Build a Curriculum Vitae
• Relationship building with faculty and second-year graduate students

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Roberta Di Carmine

Film Club

All WIU students are welcome to join the Film Club, and all events are free. We watch independent, foreign, documentary and Hollywood films. After each film, we discuss it as a group. We also participate in screenings followed by a Q&A with directors/producers/actors, and enjoy a Film Trivia Night.

Learn more about the Film Club

Follow the Film Club on Facebook

Contacts

• Film Club President - Bianca Dyche, bs-dyche@wiu.edu
• Treasurer - Nadya Herrera, nm@herrera@wiu.edu
• Faculty Advisor, Dr. Roberta Di Carmine, r-dicarmine@wiu.edu

Interdisciplinary English and the Arts Society (IDEAS)

IDEAS is an organization created by and for undergraduate and graduate students at Western Illinois University-QC who are interested in English, the Arts and humanities.

Visit IDEAS on Facebook

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Everett Hamner

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

Western Illinois University's chapter of NCTE works to promote and support teachers of English at the elementary, middle, secondary, and college levels. Member attend and present at local and national conferences, sponsor speakers and events around the teaching of English Language Arts, and participate in service activities that support community schools and literacy programs. In addition, NCTE hosts a Spring Conference at WIU each year with presentations by area teachers and a national keynote speaker.

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Rebekah Buchanan

Resources

• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
• Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE)
• Illinois Certification Testing System
• WIU's College of Education and Human Services Educator Preparation

Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society

WIU's Phi Delta chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, with members in Macomb and the Quad Cities, was established at Western Illinois University in 1941, making it one of the oldest chapters in the country.

Opportunities

• Participate in scholarly and social activities at the local, regional, and national levels
• Serve as chapter officers
• Coordinate campus service projects and book drives
• Help to create, edit, and publish one of the English department's magazines
• Attend and present acadmic papers at regional conferences and at the national convention

Eligibility

• All English majors and minors who have completed at least 6 s.h. of English coursework beyond English 280
• Have at least a 3.0 overall GPA
• Have at least a 3.0 GPA in their English courses
• By the middle of each semester, applications are sent via email attachment to English majors and minors who are eligible to join the honor society.

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Rebekah Buchanan

Resources

• Follow Sigma Tau Delta WIU on Facebook
• Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society
• Sigma Tau Delta International Convention
• Learn more about WIU's Sigma Tau Delta

The Reading Room

The Reading Room pairs two student writers with a faculty member. The goal is to provide an opportunity for students to share their work in a public space and to showcase the creative work of our faculty.

Readings are free and open to the public.

Faculty Advisor

Barbara Lawhorn