ASU English > Undergraduate Students > A Group Discussion: Undergraduate Academic Conferences

Click here for a higher quality slideshow (wmv)

Elizabeth Dern

My experience at the 23rd Undergraduate Literature Conference in Ogden was an extremely interesting and informative one.  As a student who is planning on continuing to graduate school, I felt participating in this conference would give me experience I will later need, and I was correct in this assumption.  I had never been to a conference before, and really had no idea what to expect, so it was great to be able to find out at this point in my career as a student.  The part of the conference I enjoyed most was having the opportunity to meet other students from universities all over the country; this prompted some interesting discussions about literature and creative writing – not being a creative writer, it was good to learn something new and hear about an area of study that I do not normally participate in.  The conference gave me the chance to compare my work with that of my peers, and to see where ASU fits in among other schools’ English programs, and I was pleased with the conclusions that I reached about the level of education I am receiving here.  

I was a little nervous about presenting at first, but seeing other panels before I read my paper helped me to become acclimated to the environment and not be so intimidated.  This conference has really helped in giving me confidence in my ability as a writer, as well as sharing my ideas with others.  I have always been reluctant to have anyone, outside of my professors, read my papers for class, and I think this experience will go a long way in breaking me of that habit.  The greatest worth in studying English is in the discussion of what is being studied, as it causes more critical thinking, and more ideas to be generated.  Undergraduates should be provided with the opportunity to attended conferences such as this one whenever possible. 

Kendall Gerdes

The conference I attended in February was a rather small one, organized by the Federation Rhetoric of North Texas Universities. The keynote speaker was Dr. Karlyn Kohrs Campbell, whose work on the rhetoric of women's liberation was hugely influential for me in both developing my disposition toward rhetorical broadly and also in the paper I presented at the conference: "Feminist Stagnation." As you may recall, in my paper, I trace the path of the second wave commonplace "the personal is political". Originating in second wave radical feminism, the saying has been appropriated by the so-called third wave, but its meaning has been inverted. I argue that the second wave's radical approach to subjectivity was derailed by a resurgent liberal approach, resulting in identity politics—and feminist stagnation.

The paper was the product of Dr. Sharon Crowley's seminar Rhetorics of American Feminisms. Dr. Campbell edited one our texts, Man Cannot Speak for Her, a collection of first wave feminist texts. Over and above the honor of being accepted to present, I was also excited by the chance to meet Dr. Campbell. At the banquet concluding the day-long conference, I introduced myself to Dr. Campbell and told her a bit about my paper. She invited me to email it to her, and responded with praise and encouragement toward publication.

The panel itself was incredibly rewarding. The other panelists and small audience that gathered to hear our papers produced a deeply engaging discussion about the points of connection and divergence between each work. I was introduced as an undergraduate, and the congratulations and affirmation I received were invaluable. It was a wonderful opportunity to be with other scholars of rhetoric and to habituate myself to a field I want a future in.

I have also just finished a panel proposal for the College Composition and Communication Conference in 2009--wish me luck!

Ginger Hanson
Benefits of Attending Weber State NULC

            Even though I had presented academic papers at a professional conference and a graduate symposium, it was not until presenting at an undergraduate conference that I felt as though I was really part of an earnest academic undertaking.  That is not to say that the WSRL Conference or the SWGE Symposium were not serious efforts on the part of the conference and symposium organizers, it is only to say that the NULC conference obviously receives more funding and more organizational support than the other two, and can therefore afford to bring several guest speakers to the conference, and to give away tote bags, textbooks and other fun paraphernalia to participants.  Speakers and give-aways, as shallow as it may be to admit it, really enforced my perception that this was a serious event, and that we were lucky to be there.  The dinner was also very nice in terms of ambience and in fostering the spirit of professionalism.
            I had fun watching my peers present various academic and creative works over the span of the conference.  My favorite paper was one that I actually missed in presentation, but about which I heard the author speak during the Q & A at the end of her panel’s session.  It was a work of creative nonfiction in which the author invited the audience into the life of a Freegan, a place I had never been before but was eager to experience.  I asked the author if she would email her paper to me, which she did promptly after the conference ended.  It was a nice feeling to be trusted by the author, and I know that trust is primarily the result of the setting in which I made my request.  This feeling of mutual support and trust among one’s peers is one of the most positive aspects of attending academic conferences.
            I am starting on my proposal for another undergraduate conference in the fall.  I’m addicted.       

Kassandra Maldonado
Reflections on Attending the National Undergraduate Literature Conference

I must admit to a bit of trepidation I felt when approaching the
conference. I knew little of what was expected of me or what the experience
would be like, and the banquet the first evening was a very soft introduction.
However, when the organizers announced that there were 225 students from 67
universities in 33 states attending the conference, it was incredible to hear
the scope of the conference and the number of students who were participating.
The first full day of the conference offered more enlightenment as to just how
great this experience would be. Entering the conference, I could hear students
passionately and intelligently discussing topics that most professors have to
drag into the classroom. I could hear every aspect of literature being
discussed as I passed--the limits of biographical, critical analysis,
rhetorical theory, historical context, and of course the literature itself. It
was incredible to see other students passionately engaged with subjects that I
myself am interested in.

As a forum, the conference was wonderful in giving me a sense of
research interests of other undergraduates. It was a glimpse into other
research interests I will come into contact in graduate school and helped me
focus my own. It also provided a sense of what conferences are. Graduate
students are encouraged to participate in conferences, and I think it is
fantastic to provide a forum for undergraduates, the majority of whom are
interested in attending graduate school, to gain experience that will be
valuable for our future academic careers.

The conference also provided an invaluable opportunity to network with
students at other universities. I feel that this was not only important for me
on a personal level, but also important for the English Department of ASU as a
whole. In the modern age, where the focus is not to be isolated but rather be
part of a global, academic community, what could be more valuable than having
ASU undergraduates in the department be visible in a larger undergraduate
community? As representatives of ASU, we were able to demonstrate (and
discover) the strengths of our English program, and also see the areas in
which our department can improve. And the more we are able to improve our
programs, and showcase the department, the more likely we, as a department,
will attract a higher quality of students who are more likely to impact the
study of literature.

Overall, the National Undergraduate Literature Conference was a
fantastic experience-- one that makes me wish I wasn’t graduating so that I
would be able to participate in it again next year.

Danielle Rainwater

The National Undergraduate Literature Conference was great for me. My two best friends are a math major and an economics major, so generally I don't have anyone to talk to about fun literature stuff—well, I think it's fun. At the conference, I met so many wonderful people who shared my interests and were not only willing, but also excited to talk about all of the things we are learning and reading in school. It was a great experience for me in that sense, and I am sure all of the people that I met and talked to will now have a much better understanding of Arizona State University as more than just a top-ranked party school, but also as a school that produces engaged and engaging students similar to those at the top-ranked academic schools all over the country.

One of the other amazing things about the conference was the opportunity to see the speakers. Most likely, with my resources as a college student, I would never have an opportunity to see, much less talk to, such esteemed scholars as Eleanor Wilner, a published and acclaimed poet, and Bret Anthony Jonston, the director of creative writing at Harvard. At the conference, I actually got to walk up to these people and talk to them and ask them questions and introduce myself. Hearing these people speak and listening to what they have written was inspiring, and it was even more inspiring to hear them talk about all the rejection letters they got for the very pieces that they were reading from.

I really appreciated being able to go to the conference. On my budget, I never would have been able to do it otherwise. It was a great opportunity for me, personally, and I think it was also a great opportunity for Arizona State University to show the academic community that our students can do more than party.

Thank you so much, Dr. Lester, for all the work you put into getting us to that conference; we all appreciate it more than a bottle of hand lotion can show.

Nikki VanRy
NULC Reflective Essay    
           
            My attendance at the National Undergraduate Literature Conference not only allowed me the chance to hear wonderfully crafted academic and creative works from students around the county but also gave me an entire weekend to immerse myself in the study and creation of literature. This full immersion has had incalculable benefits on my own personal plans as well as a more strengthened approach to analyzing literature.
            The personal boost the conference gave me could not have been recreated in any other way. I had the opportunity to talk to students from all over the country about literature. Discussion was encouraged and the result in me is a much broader dictionary of terms with which I can now discuss literature. I have never experienced such rich discussion of different viewpoints and different theoretical approaches in a college classroom. Because of this, my own personal goal of continuing on to grad school was reinforced. Being around my peers and experiencing a depth of study unusual in a classroom helped me realize how very much I would like to continue on in academia. The constant barrage of ideas was wonderfully enriching for me, rather than tedious or boring.
             I thoroughly enjoyed the speakers at the conference. The atmosphere was so inviting at the conference that I was able to spend time talking to two of the speakers, Eleanor Wilner and Bret Anthony Johnston. Both were very free with their advice about writing and were open when I had questions about their own work. Especially with Eleanor Wilner, I felt like I was also given the chance to listen to an amazing author of poetry, one whom I now plan to read for a long time.
            Attendance at the conference allowed me to spend time with other ASU students and, the head of the English dept, Dr. Neal Lester. I can truly say that the time I spent with these intelligent and fun people was remarkable in that it allowed me to forge new friendships with people at my own university with whom I was previously unacquainted. I have no doubt that the friendships I made at the conference, both of people at ASU but also from other schools around the country, will remain far after the conference ended. This new group of friends, as interested in literature as I am, is undoubtedly the greatest gift of the conference because knowing these people will continue to inspire my passion in the creation and interpretation of literature.