Annual Faculty Reading -- Love Was in the Air
By: Susannah Geary
Valentine’s Day 2018 the SSU faculty held their annual Faculty Reading in the Ellison Campus Center’s Underground. J.D Scrimgeour was the only professor to read anything associated with Valentine’s Day. His poem, “Valentine’s Day 1991” was touching as he recalled the political climate of that year and a protest he had attended. It was the perfect edition to the reading since this Valentine’s Day we are still living in political uncertainty and still performing protests. January O’Neil read some personal poems. February 14th is her birthday so she took the time to read some poems about herself. Her poems were funny and nostalgic and Professor O'Neil has a new book of poetry coming out in November.
Recent Salem State grad student graduate, M.P. Carver, read poetry which was funny and relevant; her take on deleting apps on an iPhone when they shake and connecting that to the political seriousness of the world was thought provoking. Liz Horowitz’s poetry, depicted the place she was from; Staten Island. Any poem that mentions Mike the Situation deserves attention. Even with that she ended it gracefully, “let us all be from somewhere.”
Julie Batten read her essay, “Disabled” that shared many of her truths, hopes and fears of her new life after spinal surgery. Regina Flynn discussed her love of that first night of summer where you can leave the windows open all night in her essay, “Open Windows” which described the joys of summertime, but she also noted her gratefulness for living in a place that experiences all four seasons.
Kevin Carey read his short story, “Ear Full”. The humorous story depicted a family emergency and what might have been the true cause of why the mother had accidently cut off her husband’s ear and why all the stress can be boiled down to a slacker son. Peter Urkowitz created some parody astrological signs that had the whole room laughing. He used fake names and fake months with relationship advice simply stating, “Smells like squirrels of a tree.” His last sign called, “Cassandra” is for everyone no matter when you were born. It’s all about living your own life no matter what horoscopes or life itself says you should do.
The faculty actually didn’t have to do these readings; they have been without a contract for 231 days and counting. They came out for this reading with nothing but their own love of generously sharing their writing with students. Ask your English professors for ways to help or support during this time.