The Elm Student Newspaper
Annual Freshman Reading impresses students and faculty
Heidi Atwood
The O'Neill Literary House hosted the
Freshmen Reading Tuesday, January 30.
Ryan Murray, Elm photographer
Freshmen creative writing students gathered at the O'Neill Literary House this past Tuesday night to participate in the annual Freshmen Reading.
Students and professors met on the enclosed porch and listened to the blossoming writers for a little over an hour, an enjoyment shared by all.
The reading has been a WC tradition for some years now.
Creative Writing Professor Kathy Wagner explained that "at the end of the first semester, all freshman creative writing students are asked [if they would like] to read ... Usually students read works written from the previous semester."
This year, more students than usual decided to share their works.
Senior Ben Clausen said, "The creative writing department has grown since I was a freshman. There used to be two sections and this year I think there were five. It's nice to see so many people involved."
Before students read, Wagner gave a short introduction. She expressed the importance of order, rhythm, and form in writing and her hopes that the freshmen had learned some of that importance during the last semester.
More than twenty of the freshmen who studied writing with Professor Murphy, Mooney, and Wagner were courageous enough to read their best pieces to the rest of the student body.
The audience members and readers seemed to enjoy the event.
Freshman writer Angie Haley commented, "I like reading. We used to have coffee houses when I was in high school, so I've read my work before."
For her, the experience did not only involve reading.
Said Haley, "I like hearing other people read. It gives you more to write about; you hear different styles."
Freshman participant Emily Getman commented, "I wanted to know if all the other classes have people as talented as the people in my class."
Some writers had a practical reason for participating in the event. Britt Petzold wanted to read because she is considering minoring in creative writing.
In addition, Petzold also said she "enjoyed listening to everyone else read."
Audience member Stephanie Gerhold was impressed with the high caliber of writing. She thought that the writing was "perceptive, mature, and portrayed very developed thought."
Gerhold was also awed by the manner in which students read their works: "[The reading] was amazing. They read with passion, pride, and respect for the genre."
Clausen was also pleased with the students who read. "It's nice to see new talent," he commented. "I heard a handful I thought were really good - people I'd like to hear from in four years."
Students were not the only individuals who appreciated the reading.
Said Professor Diane Cousineau, "There was a great appreciation among students for each other. There was a nice variety of works and passions."
Wagner was pleased with all who attended and participated in the event.
She said, "It was a great reading. The audience was attentive and students read a variety of styles."
Wagner was especially impressed with the level of writing that the freshmen had attained. Said Wagner, "It was very brave of the freshmen to read, most for the first time. They demonstrated a love of literature and a desire to share their work with others."
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