Adrian Northrup

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, UW-Eau Claire’s Theta Zeta chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society, hosted the 2006 Midwestern Regional Conference Friday and Saturday.

More than 30 graduate and undergraduate students from 17 schools in the Midwest presented works within the theme of popular culture.

Theta Zeta initiated a region-wide call for papers in March, which featured student works on topics such as gender studies, philosophy, religion, photography and sociocultural evolution.

Freshman Heather Sommer, an English major and prospective Theta Zeta member, said she attended as many workshops and presentation sessions as she could to “scope everything out.”

“It’s really interesting to see what other students are doing and what they’re writing about,” she said.

Amanda ReCupido, a student from Illinois Wesleyan University, was impressed by the range of papers (Eau Claire) presented.

“I didn’t expect that,” she said. “I found it very enjoyable.”

Eau Claire Theta Zeta members were elected to all three representative positions at the 2006 Sigma Tau Delta national convention in Oregon.

“It’s unusual for (all) representatives to be at the same school,” said assistant professor of English Gloria Hochstein, who also serves as Theta Zeta’s adviser and Midwestern Sigma Tau Delta regent.

Graduate student Daniel Hardy serves as the student representative, and graduate student Grant Tharaldson serves as the associate student representative.

“(Organizing the conference) is a lot of work,” Hochstein said.

Hardy agreed, adding that organizing it took five months.

“I like promoting English literature and language arts; it’s something I really believe in,” Hardy said. “(Hosting the conference) is another step for us to be more involved in the community.”

Theta Zeta received strong support from the English department and the College of Arts and Sciences, Hochstein said. Former Midwestern Regent Todd Martin, from Huntington University (Ind.), assisted with the financial aspect of the conference.

“I love the fact you can go to conferences like this and talk to peers about literature, branch out and meet new people,” Lewis University (Ill.) student Dani Norton said.

“Everyone (brings) different experiences.”