On a lazy Thursday afternoon last week, a loquacious bunch of students and faculty gathered at Dr. Charles Bradshaw’s house to commence the annual English Society picnic.

Faculty, good cooking and casual conversation characterized this lively occasion, infamous among some of the students and faculty, as the picnic generated much attendance.

Aside from the picnic, students interested in joining the English Society met an hour before with faculty advisers Bradshaw and Dr. Heidi Huse to discuss building the organization as a more active group on campus. One significant function the advisers stressed is that the organization should serve as a link between students and faculty by having interested students assist faculty with research projects (which looks great on resumes and graduate school applications).

“The English Society is a way for students to have closer interaction with English faculty and other students in social and academic settings,” said Bradshaw, also an assistant professor of English.

Students in attendance discussed core issues for the society, including a theme for the movie series, additional activities for the organization and election of officers.

Brainstorming ideas for additional activities resulted in possible marathon readings, coffee house poetry slams/readings, author days, learning about authors series, service projects, holiday readings, and bake sales (and other fund-raising events), etc.

A Halloween party is also a possibility with the intention of reading scary stories and dressing up in costume.

One event English Society members expressed an interest in was sponsoring a reading competition for high school students in which high school students would have the opportunity to read their own creative works, including poetry, fiction, essays, etc. This event would incorporate high schools surrounding the Martin area.

Some potential themes for the film series include westerns, ‘50s/’60s era, road films, revenge films, John Hughes films, murder in the academy, etc. Also, nominations for new officers were taken but not decided.

Tonya Parham, a senior English/History major from Martin, said, “I would like to see the English Society become a stronger force on campus and for students to become involved in the organization for interest.”

The English Society will meet again at 4 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 7, in the English Department lounge, 130 Humanities.