Push for Diversity in Graduate School Programs

My Visit to Virginia Tech

By Lynne Barras

   On October 14^th and 15th, I had the pleasure of being one of three English majors representing TSU at Virginia Tech’s third annual HBCU/MSI Research Summit. I was joined by India Hunter, English major and De’ Ja Gooch, English/ History double major. The summit caters to students of HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutes (MSI) in an effort to attract more diverse and qualified students to their graduate programs. In addition to introducing us to the students and teachers of their various programs, Virginia Tech provided us with housing and meals free of charge. Overall, I found the program informative, particularly the session devoted to helping us learn about the school’s application process. I also felt that the staff and faculty were excited to have us there and even more eager to see us apply.

   However, I am sad to say that we were some of the only students representing any liberal arts majors. As a result, we felt as though we saw less of what the university had to offer us as English majors, and the affair felt less organized on our end. On the upside, I did get the opportunity to connect with Dr. Gena Chandler-Smith, who serves as director of the Masters of English department and offered to put me in touch with the head of the MFA program. Regardless of the little bumps, the experience was wonderful. I encourage students and teachers to be on the lookout for more chances to do the same at other schools.

Major Revelations: Finding Your Best Self in Your Humanities Major

One of the hardest decisions a college student will have to make is on their major. Regardless of classification, the pursuit of the perfect major can seem maddening. So when the school had its major fair on September 19^th, I went to hear how the faculty and staff had come to their own decisions. One of the voices I found was that of Ms. Trena Barksdale, who works the director of undergraduate studies in TSU’s College of business. Ms. Barksdale reminisced on previous concerns she had when choosing her major, “The hardest part was making the decision.” From the advice I collected from Ms. Barksdale and others managing booths at the fair, I complied five key questions you should ask yourself when you pick a major.

1.      What do you love?

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” My mother used to say this every single time I asked what should I be when I get a job. Everyone I spoke with echoed these same sentiments, but none said them as beautifully as Dr. Kimberly Triplett of the Urban Studies Department, “I would say to the students that they’re passionate about, something that keeps you fueling that keeps you going.”

2.      What might you like?

Most people know what they like, but you should always be open to trying something new. Barksdale says, “When you go to college, you want to experience everything. Anything you can get ahold of, because you find out ‘Hey I really do enjoy this.’” She encourages students to take different electives because you never know what you may find.

3.      What are you good at?

You can love to do something and be total garbage at it. I love reading comic and drawing, but I have no talent for consistency needed to enter that the art department of any comic book company. What I am good at is writing. That’s why I choose English as my major. If you’re really good at writing code, then you may want to consider computer science. If you want to succeed, then you should start with what you can hone. Don’t use your major to complete reinvent yourself. Work with your strengths and those grades will work with you.

4.      What do you want to do with your life?

While in many cases people may end up in a career that seems to have nothing to do with their major, that’s usually a surface issue. For instance, one might think that in order to become a marketing expert they only need to choose a business major. However, on closer inspection, an English major may serve them just as well. Dr. Erik Schmeller defended majors in the Humanities by pointing out, “Most liberal arts majors, history included- English, communications – it’s more about skills as opposed to you can recite who was at the signing of the Declaration.”  Thinking that way, what’s the English major if not constantly making an agreement and attempting to persuade another to think as they do. So, be sure to always think critically about what aspects of a major or majors can best push you towards an end goal.

5.      Are you up for grad school?

The reality of trying to find work in your field also depends a great deal on how far you are willing to take your education. No one is going to become a doctor without going to Medical School. Few English majors will be able to advance in their careers without even higher education. On the other hand, you may be able to pass by as a computer science major with a certification. Take the need for a masters or doctorate to work in that field into consideration as well.

Written by Lynne Barras

The Firey Souls of LLP

I became an honorary member of Soul Fire!

     Do you have a passion for poetry? Slam or classic? Are you a poet searching for a group of like-minded students to help you develop your craft? Are you looking for a healthy outlet for all that emotion building up in your soul? Then, do I have the scoop for you! Allow me to highlight the passionate members of TSU’s spoken word poets. 
      Under the tutelage of Dr. Michelle Pinkard and Tia Smedly,a poet mentor from Southern Word, the members of Soul Fire hold weekly meetings, every Wednesday at 5 PM in Davis Humanities room 103. Their first meeting was last Wednesday. 
     Dr. Pinkard focuses on poetry of the page while Ms. Smedley specializes in performance skill. Of course, anyone interested in poetry is welcome to attend these meetings. I can attest to the fact that newcomers can expect as warm a reception as long time members. From the moment I walked into the room, I was met with wild enthusiasm and excitement. The legitimate power that you will encounter in these meetings is nothing to shake your finger at. 
     I was left in awe by the beautiful tapestries of words they produced in the first thirty minutes of brainstorming. Watching the intense focus and concentration radiate from ever person in the room was awe-inspiring. Even I was tempted to write a little. I encourage all of you to keep an eye out at this year’s oratorical contest for a peek at some of their talent.
   If you’re a budding poet who still experiences a good amount of shyness when sharing your work, I cannot stress enough the importance of the kind support this group offers. At the same time, the group, especially its professional mentors, is also adept in providing the kind of constructive criticism more experienced poets crave.  
     Learn more about the grouip by viewing:Soul Fire Mini-Documentary Or, visit their facebook page by clicking here I Want to Write Student Organizations.

Written by: Lynne Barras

Meet Our New Social Media Intern - Fall 2018

Tarrolyn Barras

Good morning, afternoon, or night to you -- whenever you’re checking out this post! My name is Tarrolyn Brielle Barras, but henceforth you will see me referred to as Lynne. I am the new Social Media Intern here on beautiful Tennessee State University’s Language, Literature, and Philosophy blog.

I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, but Nashville has become as much my home in these past couple of years. I am an English major, graduating this coming May of 2019. My short term goals are as follows:

1.      Bring you quality content that will enrich you in some shape or form.
2.      Write. For an audience of not just teachers.
3.      Strive for that perfect 4.0 GPA this and every semester.
4.      Get into somebody’s “paid for” Graduate program. 

My long term goal is to become a successful writer who inspires others to be the positive change they want in the world.

What I really want to see is engagement from all of you. Be ye teacher, student (current or prospective), or alumni, I want to engage you.  We will explore what is happening around campus, and what’s going on in the LLP world. I hope for some intriguing responses, and that you enjoy what you see from me this semester. I intend to give you 210% and to make you all proud.

End of the Year: Events and Preparing for Finals

(Sigma Tau Delta inductees from L to R)
Raven Davis; Tarrolyn Barras: India Hunter:
Chandler Wilson: Trelani Green 

     April was a busy time for the LLP department.  First, we held our fourth installment of the "I Want to Write Poetry Conference."  This two-day workshop series and poetry festival honors poetry month through free, one-hour poetry and spoken word workshops. This year's theme -- Resistance and Representation:  the Aesthetics of Advocacy -- was a reflection of our current political climate, said event organizer Dr. Michelle Pinkard.  "This year's theme, and the goal behind the series, is to encourage attendees to see their poetry and their voice as an agent for change." 

     That event included the final installment of the Black Film Series, which was a screening and discussion of the film School Daze. Participants had a lively discussion that explored issues of race on an HBCU campus.  As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the film, there was much opportunity for comparison. 

Dr. Chris Field

     LLP also held its induction ceremony for Sigma Tau Delta.  As one of the participants, I was honored to be a part of it. After the ceremony, there was a reception where students were able to mingle with faculty like the event organizer Dr. Cindy Murillo and our department chair Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis.  We played games and ate cake. Fun was had by all!

      But now it is time to get serious. Finals are around the corner, and papers are due. Fortunately, Dr. Field, an LLP a professor, has a simple solution to acing your finals and coming out on top. He offers this sage advice:

      "My advice would be simple: Form a study group with others in the class. This can help students compare notes with others and to talk about the material in a way that parallels the classroom environment. This, of course, would not apply to situations where students are given a take-home final or where they are working on papers, as this may lead to instances of plagiarism. However, in situations where students are preparing for an in-class final exam, a study group can be invaluable”

A few other common tips for preparing for your finals are:

1. Organize- Organize the materials that you are going to study and put a time limit on how long you will study specific materials.

2. Nourishment- This tip is ancient, but eat something before the test to give yourself energy. You do not want to fall asleep during your exam and you will require maximum alertness. 

3. Positivity- Go into the exam with a positive mindset. If you have prepared and studied, then you can confidently ace your final exam.

May the Odds Be Forever In You Favor! Happy Testing!!

Chandler Wilson

A Conversation with Dr. Bowie: The Passing of Dr. James Montmarquet and the State of the Philosophy Department

Dr. James Montmarquet

I recently caught up with Dr. Charles Bowie, a Philosophy professor in our Language, Literature, and Philosophy Department. We discussed many things concerning the Philosophy facet of the department.

The passing of Dr. Montmarquet was devastating and he will be greatly missed by many who knew him.  Dr. Bowie explained that Dr. Montmarquet was more than a colleague, he was a friend.  “He was a great mentor and he always had your back,” he said. 

Dr. Bowie met Dr. Montmarquet at Vanderbilt University while he was a graduate student in 2002. He credits some of the foundations of his teaching at Tennessee State University to Dr. Montmarquet. Dr. Bowie said he personally will miss the intellectual conversations they had pertaining to philosophy and religion. 

Dr. Charles Bowie

Dr. Montmarquet has been in the Philosophy Department for a span of 31 years and his favorite courses to teach were Introduction to Philosophy, even though he specialized in Logic. "He felt that if he had sparked one person’s interest in Philosophy that he had done his job," Dr. Bowie said. 

Dr. Bowie would like to continue to build on this legacy by making the Philosophy minor stronger for interested TSU students. He wants to continue efforts that he and Dr. Montmarquet started, such as expanding the minor, creating more upper division Philosophy courses, and offering more religious studies classes. 

Dr. Bowie is currently teaching two Introduction to Philosophy courses, a Religious Studies course, and Special Topics: Black Comics and Graphic Novels with Dr. Field.  Eventually, Dr. Bowie would like to integrate more literature into the Philosophy courses that he teaches to improve the structure of the curriculum. 

Learn more about Dr. James Montmarquet (excerpt from obituary)

Dr. James Montmarquet

Dr. James Montmarquet taught at Tennessee State University in Nashville from 1986 to 2017, and was dedicated to both the field of philosophy and his students. He specialized in the Philosophy of Religion, Theory of Knowledge, and Moral and Analytic Philosophy. He authored three books, Epistemic Virtue and Doxastic Responsibility, Conversations on Moral Issues, and The Idea of Agrarianism. He co-authored Reflections: An Anthology of African American Philosophy with William H. Hardy.  Dr. Montmarquet wrote numerous articles and reviews for professional journals and publications, and was the recipient of many grants and awards.

In addition to teaching and writing, Jim was an avid runner, cyclist, and swimmer. During his time as an assistant professor at Washington State University in the late 1980s, Jim established a baseball league with the neighborhood children. He had the only lawn in town with designated bases and a pitcher’s mound. He was loved by all of the children there. He was a member of the Nashville Striders for many years, and enjoyed running 5Ks with his son, Michael.

Jim was blessed with a great sense of humor and the ability to tell a captivating story. He also possessed a robust memory and could recall minutia from books read long ago, as easily as he could recall stories from his childhood.

Fight of Flight: Post Midterm Survival Guide

I recently caught up with LLP Interim Department Chair Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis to receive Five Tips to turn the semester around if you have failed one or more of your midterm exams.  Her was her advice:

Dr. Samantha Morgan Curtis
LLP Interim Dept. Chair

1^st Meet with the Professor- Ideally if you have not met up with your professor, this is the time to confront those grades head on. Many of us need to see reports of progress before we discuss grades. Make an appointment and honestly let the instructor know that you are willing and ready to turn this grade around. When meeting with your professor admit to the weaknesses and get tips on how to proceed in the class.

2^nd Grade Algebra is Key- All professors provide a break down of their grading systems. Do the calculations and be realistic on what can be done to continue in this class. It is hard to drop classes when financial and academic standing comes in to play.

3^rd Impact of University Standing- If you realize that you can not get through the class with a passing average, it’s time to talk to your advisor. There are many options and a few outcomes, which include dropping a class. Be cautious in dropping classes as there are often university requirements and scholarship obligations to consider. Dropping a class only means taking it again if it is academically required for graduation.

4^th Decisions- So you have talked to your professor and advisor about your fate in the class, and you have decisions to make; Flight or Fight! You have decided to fight and continue in the course, its time to look at your resources. As a student, there are many options for help on TSU’s campus such as: office hours to receive help from your professor, Tiger Tutoring, the Write Center, and much more. Students pay for these sources!! Be sure to get the most bang out of your buck!

5^th Time Management and Study Habits- Analyze what was going on in your first attack and make changes in your strategies for the second half of the course. Take more time to study and stay organized.

Good luck Tigers.  

Chandler Wilson

*PS, Don't forget to Mark Your Calendar with some rather cool events being hosted by LLP faculty:

- This Friday (3/23), The Black Film Series is screening and discussing  Higher Learning at 10a, in Poag Auditorium.
-  Next Friday (3/30), The Gay Straight Alliance is screening and discussion The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson at 10a, Humanities 113.