_______________________________________

Summer 2012
The View From West Egg

Dear CWP Students,

It’s with some sadness that I write my first letter to you as President of West Egg Literati. Jenny McDougal, our former president, has graduated from Hamline University and as such can no longer be a part of the West Egg Literati in an official capacity. Jenny passed West Egg lovingly to me, and I’d like to take this opportunity to describe what West Egg is and where it is going.

West Egg is firstly a literary reference to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, to those upstart romantics on the West Egg: the Nick Carraways, the Jay Gatsbys, and the nouveau riche—those who pursue impossible dreams to stunning (though hopefully less tragic) conclusions. In that tradition, we try to get out of our spacious mansions and into the arts community of the Twin Cities. We hold classy parties. We frequent social clubs. We take in the local cinema. We’re all about town being fancy.

We exist to be your gateway to the Twin Cities arts community, and to be a connection between each of you. As long as there are students in Hamline’s CWP House, there will be a West Egg to connect us. Over the summer, expect some of the following events:

1.     Expect the Fanciest Get-Togethers at W.A. Frost—In the tradition of the Friendlies of yesteryear (and because we’re insanely jealous of our friends at Water~Stone Review), we get together every Third Thursday of the month to be out and about. Over the summertime, the glorious patio at W.A. Frost is open, and that’s where you will find couches full of West-Eggers underneath the blooming lights and among the crackling fireplaces.

2.     Expect to never go Reading Alone Again—At West Egg, we don’t believe any student should go reading alone. If your work is up to read somewhere in the Twin Cities, tell us, and we’ll put the word out. If possible, we’ll even read with you in solidarity, and we’ll always be there with a round of applause for you. Listen for a holler when your name is called. That’s us

3.     Expect the Classiest Parties—When the occasion calls for a fancy party, West Eggers are eager to host. West Egg parties are many things to many people, but one thing that they are to all people is: classy. You have enough excuses to stay in your mansion: a good episode of that TV show you like, cranky kids , and work tomorrow.  We’re your excuse to go out.  Take it.  Expect Someone to Read Your Work—We hope to offer a kind ear and an incisive eye to your work. Got some poetry you’d like to have looked at? We know someone who’d like to help you. We’ll be setting up critique groups throughout the summer exclusively for Hamline CWP graduate students on the basis of “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.”  Because sometimes you have a particularly itchy back, and we aim to be your calamine lotion.

I’ll have more to tell you when the semester starts about rock, paper, scissors (our premier graduate publication), upcoming workshop series, and a million other reasons for you to leave your mansion and venture out into the world.

Cheers,
Benjamin J. Kowalsky I
President and CEO, West Egg Literati

_______________________________________________________________________

SPRING 2012

On behalf of our President, Jenny McDougal 

West Egg Literati is the graduate student group of the Creative Writing Programs and Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. Everyone in the MALS and MFA programs is automatically a member, but how involved you are is up to you.

West Egg is for the students; we want to do what you want to do. As new students enter the program and old students graduate, West Egg changes.

Here’s what we’ve been cooking: 

In the fall, we published the sixth edition of rock, paper, scissors, a literary annual completely edited and designed by students in various stages of the MFA program. The issue was designed by Stephen Mcpherson, a current MFA student here at CWP. It features a simple brown cover with bold graphics and possibly the first ever cover bound with actual metal bolts. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Check out copies at the CWP house. 

Oh the times, oh the customs. We’ve had parties and get-togethers this year. We’ve even started a weekly Happy Hour at Sweeney’s Saloon over the Fall in 2011.

There’s also a fantastic House Blend Salon series held at the CWP house on the 3^rd Thursday of every month where we try to foster the community between MFA, MFAC, BFA, MALS, and other students in our writing community. There have been cozy fireside chats, basement brouhahas at the Turf Club, and haunted holiday parties at the“CWP Poetry House."

Next season’s rock, paper, scissors is going to be curated by Jordan Wiklund. So send him an email to congratulate him and get involved with the production of our pride and joy. As surprising as it is, our parties are not our shining jewels; they may not even constitute out highest moments as artists or as people. Editor and designer positions are available, so put yourself out there and become a part of history.

West Egg is still going strong and we’re still here to maintain the CWP as a true community for artists at all stages of their craft. Get involved, come out, and make yourself unforgettable—in a good way.

So in that spirit, Please join your fellow students for the annual spring meeting of our student-group. All students are encouraged to come. We’ll catch up on old times, meet new students, and discuss plans for the coming semester--all while enjoying free coffee and pastries. This is our chance to decide what we want to accomplish with this semester and school year. We will surely discuss rock,paper,scissors but past that, West Egg’s agenda is up to you!  

Past years, we’ve put on readings, activity days with faculty, costume parties, and panel discussion but we’re open to any new ideas that will help build a sense of community in Hamline’s GLS program.   

Annual Spring Meeting:

When: Sunday, March 18th; 2:00-4:00
Where: Bush Memorial Library, Room 205

Email us at westegg@hamlineuniversity.edu with your ideas. 

Spring 2011

Fall 2010