Many students supplement their academic studies by writing for campus literary magazines or by attending public lectures and poetry readings sponsored by the department.
Visit CampusGroups for a list of registered student groups and publications on campus. Visit Campus Activities for more information from Student & Campus Life.
Department Events
The Department of Literatures in English coordinates a number of events featuring renowned creative writers and scholars each semester. Visiting writers are occasionally included in coursework, so students have the opportunity to interact with an author whose work they have been exploring.
Visit the English Events and Zalaznick Reading Series webpages for more information.
Society for the Humanities
To stay informed about humanities events from other departments and programs, subscribe to the Society for the Humanities weekly Cornell humanities events digest.
Student Groups
The Cornell Literary Society
Organized by and for English majors and enthusiasts, the Literary Society plans events each semester such as panel discussions with department professors, student poetry readings, book club discussions, and sponsors free tickets to movies and theater productions at Cornell Cinema and the Schwartz Center. The society's ultimate goals are to inspire interest in the major and minor, establish strong relationships with Department of Literatures in English faculty, and foster a united community among English enthusiasts of a variety of concentrations and disciplines. Anyone with a love for reading is encouraged to join the listserv and attend the society's monthly mixer-meetings, where students chat in the English Lounge over refreshments.
Membership is open to ALL undergraduates. For further information, contact litsoc@cornell.edu or visit their website.
The Quill Guild
The purpose of TQG is to provide a community for aspiring writers at Cornell University to hone their craft through creative writing workshops, guest lectures, peer critique sessions, and other planned club activities. TQG also seeks to provide a social atmosphere and safe haven for writers to meet others, express their opinions and works, and engage in the appreciation of the art of writing. The focus of the club is on creating a collaborative learning environment rather than producing a publication.
For further information, contact thequillguildcornell@gmail.com or visit their website.
Quodlibet
Quodlibet, the undergraduate society for Medieval Studies, organizes fall and spring guest lectures by non-Cornell medievalists. Quodlibet has a mailing list of over 100 students, professors, and staff in departments all over campus; an even broader membership of undergraduate and graduate students in a wide range of fields who attend our events; and a steering committee of a handful of students.
Publications
Rainy Day
Rainy Day is an undergraduate publication sponsored by Cornell University. Published biannually since 1969, Rainy Day presents the finest student literary works from undergraduates across the country.
For further information, contact rainyday@cornell.edu or visit their website.
kitsch
kitsch has published fiction, high-caliber art and photography, features, interviews with local and global figures, reviews of literature, film, and music, cultural criticism, backhanded observations, personal essays, lengthy tirades, loving odes, and much more over the course of its 17 years of publication.
Cornell Undergraduate Research Journal
The Cornell Undergraduate Research Journal (CURJ) is a bi-annual, peer-reviewed, independent student research publication featuring the exemplary scholarly work of Cornell undergraduates. One issue is published per semester, online and in-print.
Cornell Daily Sun
Founded in 1880, The Sun is the oldest continuously independent college daily in the United States. The Sun publishes a print edition on Wednesdays during the academic year and is free on newsstands and online. The Sun is staffed entirely by Cornell students, aside from a few full-time production and business positions, and operates out of an office building in downtown Ithaca.
Academic & Scholarly Opportunities
Visit Undergraduate Research and Special Academic Opportunities for more information and guidance from the College of Arts & Sciences.
Humanities Scholars Program
The Humanities Scholars Program (HSP) is an undergraduate program of the Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences that fosters independent, interdisciplinary undergraduate research in the humanities, and provides a supportive community, through a series of curated courses, structured mentorship, special programming, and research opportunities and funding. The program is housed in the historic Andrew Dickson White House on central campus.
English honors candidates can overlap work on their thesis and HSP project.
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
Established in 1988, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) is committed to expanding academic faculties and leadership in higher education and to promoting the value of the humanities and related disciplines. Its name honors Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the noted African American educator, statesman, minister, and former president of Morehouse College.
English honors candidates can overlap work on their thesis and MMUF project.
Digital CoLab
The purpose of Digital Scholarship Services and the Digital CoLab is to support digital scholarly activity, particularly in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. Some opportunities and events will be for graduate students only, but their co-working sessions (Weekly CoLab Office Hours) are open to undergraduates. To stay informed about their offerings, subscribe to the Digital Scholarship Newsletter.