Creative Writing Department Hosts Final Senior Reading of the Semester
By Lily Papendick
Monday, April 7, marked the final senior reading of the semester, officially bringing the 2024-2025 readings to a close.
Hosted by the Creative Writing Department, the event took place at 7 p.m. in Lore Degenstein Gallery and commemorated four graduating creative writing students, giving each the opportunity to read aloud from select pieces they had written during their time at SU.
After initial remarks by Professor Monica Prince, the night commenced with readings from Taylor Lampron, a creative writing major with minors in theatre and film. Described by Professor Hasanthika Sirisena as “viewing literature as an embodied practice,” Lampron read excerpts from two short stories, displaying their bedazzled pages to the audience as compensation for the impending potty humor they were about to hear. Her first story, “Sprite Night,” focused on the antics of two fairies, Sparkles and Star, as they prepare for the elegant sprite night ball, including a hilarious encounter with two enemy fairies. Her second story, “Princess Charming,” followed a similar comedic route, this time with the main character ending up face-down in a trashcan. Lampron said “When it comes to writer’s block, the thing that always gets me out is sticking to my comfort zone.”
Delya McCann, a dual major in creative writing and publishing & editing, performed the second reading of the night with two poems and an excerpt from a nonfiction piece. Professor Matthew Null described McCann as having a “wonderful dry sense of humor,” which was demonstrated through McCann’s readings. Despite the difference in genres, all of McCann’s pieces were passionate and profound, dealing with the complex themes of sexism, societal expectations, and what it truly means to be a woman in literature. Her advice for future writers: “Figure out your love for creative writing before you waste time and money on something you never really wanted in the first place.”
The third reading of the night came from James Pickering, who read a combination of four poems and a flash fiction piece. A creative writing major with minors in religious studies and music performance, Pickering let the audience even further into his artistry by giving an explanation of each piece before reading it. His poem “The Morning After,” was particularly moving, as the narrator discussed their mix of feelings following the 2024 presidential election. Pickering reminded the audience that “your goal isn’t to write a great story, it’s to write your story, and if you write our story unapologetically, it will be great.”
The night’s final reading, and subsequently the final reading of the 2024-2025 academic year, came from Emily Mae Rautzahn, a dual major in creative writing and theatre studies. To conclude the night, Rautzahn read aloud from three poems, the first being “Magnum Opus,” which elicited many laughs from the audience as the narrator poked fun at the life of a college student. Her second and third poems, “Maybe Love is a Single Woman” and “Failure and Love, Mind and Body,” both had beautiful delivery and evoked compelling visuals using imagery. Rautzahn recommended not to “compare your success or progress to anyone else. Everyone moves at their own speed. Your journey is a gift.”
Congratulations to all creative writing graduating seniors as they enter this next chapter of their lives, and may their words continue to inspire, challenge, and touch those around them.