by Genny Boots, Guest Writer
The PLU English Club is a new organization coming to campus this fall.
It’s planning to join the International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, as soon as the administrators approve.
Sigma Tau Delta is an internationally recognized collegiate organization of English scholars and academics. The new PLU branch, “Upsilon Alpha Sigma,” is a club for English majors or minors, but all with the necessary qualifications are welcome.
Co-Presidents Jennifer Arbaugh and Nate Schoen, along with advisor Jenny James are still working to become a qualified honor society. As it is now, PLU English Club is considered an on-campus club and open to all. By the end of the fall semester, Arbaugh hopes the club will become a full-fledged member of Sigma Tau Delta.
Potential members must apply and meet certain qualification because the PLU English Club is an honor society. Applicants must have completed two semesters of college, have eight English credits and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and a 3.5 average for English classes. There will be additional requirements for accepted students, according to Arbaugh.
Sigma Tau Delta has over 850 chapters countrywide and abroad, and nearly 9,000 new members are inducted annually.
There are also branches within two-year colleges and high schools.According to the Sigma Tau Delta’s mission, it stives to… “Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities.”
“[I hope to] continue these conversations we have in class beyond the classroom and create a support system for the English department [at PLU],” Arbaugh said.
The club will partner with campus literary magazine “Saxifrage” and the social justice zine “The Matrix.” Arbuagh also plans on bringing in local writers from the Puget Sound area and taking full advantage of the “Visiting Writer Series” events held on campus.
“I want this to be a community for writers, readers and thinkers,” Arbaugh said.
A focus for the club, especially as it develops, is to offer a safe space to share student pieces and encourage publication. Members have the opportunity to submit work for biannual journals, “The Sigma Tau Delta Review” and “The Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle.”
For now, the PLU English Club is welcoming any and all. The club will offer open meetings throughout the year so students, faculty and anyone interested can participate.
The first meeting will be held Oct. 23. Any questions can be directed to Jennifer Arbaugh at arbaugjl@plu.edu.
