Luther College Students Present Research and Creative Work at International Convention

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — Four seniors from Luther College were selected to present poems, short stories and research papers at the annual convention of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society in New Orleans this spring. The students — Katherine Griffin of Wisconsin Dells, Niamh Mee of St. Paul, Edie Meehan of Northfield and Sea Orme of Seattle — are members of Luther's Sigma Tau Delta chapter and all major in English. The students described the convention as an inspiring and informative experience and said they enjoyed connecting with peers from other institutions. "I had a wonderful time getting to meet and hear the works of other young writers. Everyone was very friendly and had such interesting things to talk about," Meehan said. Meehan presented a short story titled "Elsie's Piano," about a humanoid robot hired to work on a soybean farm in a slightly post-apocalyptic future. The story follows the relationship between the robot, Elsie, and the farmer's son, Ben, who distrusts technology. "I learned at the convention that there are people my age already getting their work published, and that I shouldn't be afraid to pursue those things for myself," Meehan said. Orme said a children's literature panel provided valuable insight for a senior project, a children's book focused on disability and equity. "The panel I attended talked about incorporating social issues like these into children's literature, so it was both informative and relevant," Orme said. Griffin said the conference broadened her perspective as a writer. "Before the conference I had only really interacted with my poetry on an individual level," she said. "After the conference I saw not only how my poetry could be improved, but also how it can build connections to other poetry. The conference showed me that I could push myself even further than what I thought." Mee presented a comparative analysis of William Butler Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory's 1902 play "Cathleen ni Houlihan" and Sean O'Casey's 1923 play "Kathleen Listens In." "Both plays deal with mythological female characters as symbols of Irish nationalism, but neither play gives agency to real women in the fight for Irish independence," Mee said. "My research paper addresses this disparity, and the conflict between the social and nationalist views of femininity, as well as the difficulties of feminized concepts of nationhood that promote the subordination of women in Irish life during the early 20th century." Mee said the Sigma Tau Delta conference was the first academic conference where she presented research outside of Luther's Learning at Luther Showcase. "I had never been to an academic conference, and the Sigma Tau Delta conference was an excellent way to gain this type of experience, which I know will serve me well in the rest of my life," she said. Marie Drews, associate professor of English and adviser for Luther's Sigma Tau Delta chapter, accompanied the students to the conference. "The Sigma Tau Delta conference provides students with an excellent opportunity to interact with their peers and to engage with renowned writers — this year in New Orleans, a city with such rich literary history," Drews said. "I was especially impressed with how our students answered questions and talked about the works they presented, demonstrating their readiness to take their Luther education into the wider world." The Office of the Provost, the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement and the English Department provided funding for student travel, hotel and registration costs. Make your inbox your go-to for local news! Sign up for the free newsletter and get timely updates, special features, and more.