English Events: Looking back and looking forward
by Beja Puškášová ’26
Hello everyone! We are already almost halfway through our semester, but the English Department still has many exciting events for you to look forward to. For your convenience, we have assembled all the events with short descriptions for each of them in this article so that you can put them in your calendar!
All of these events happen regularly each week (except Spring Break) on Wednesdays, 4:30-6 pm on the 4th floor of Old Main. When there is a Literary Salon, meaning that the English Department is hosting an author, snacks and refreshments are served at 4:30 as usual, but the reading and discussion with the author begins at 5 pm.
January 29th – Catch Up Coffee House
The English Department hosted a catch-up coffee house to welcome everyone back to school after Winter break. (Note the spectacular sunset everyone observed!)
February 5th – Anthology Release Party with Mocktails
We celebrated the launch of The Orchard, a student-made anthology written by Professor Steve Woodward’s Literary Publishing class.
February 12th – Coffee House: Valentines Day with fondue
Two days before Valentine’s Day, students had the chance to join the English Department to make some arts and crafts that were accompanied by a delicious fondue. Thanks to everyone who showed up!
February 19th – Alumni panel with Career Exploration
Professor Andrea Kaston Tange from the English Department and Marcos Cruz from Career Exploration hosted a panel of four English alumni. Read more here about what our insightful alums had to say about their experiences at Macalester and beyond.
February 26th – In-house Literary Salon with Professors Andrea Kaston Tange and Rachel Gold
Professor Rachel Gold talked about their current writing projects, one of which is a continuation of their recently published book Curious Minds, with the other being a close academic reading of X-Men comics! She also shared their experience co-editing Sinister Wisdom, an international lesbian journal, with a group of student workers.
Professor Andrea Kaston Tange talked about a creative nonfiction project she’s been working on (provisional title: Flowers for the Living) that began with her great-grandmother’s diary and turned into an investigative family memoir that explores what it means to understand the past when silences in the historical record form the foundation of a narrative.
March 5th – Literary Salon: David Perry
Author David Perry hosted by Professor Coral Lumbley talked about their literary work. During the Coffee House, we will release the new English Department sticker and have a birthday party for our beloved mascot, Raphael.
March 12th – Literary Salon: Ben Percy
Author Ben Percy, hosted by Professor Emma Törzs, will discuss his work.
March 26th – Coffee House: Tyler Osmond book sharing, etc.
Watch for more information coming soon!
April 2nd – Middlemarch Madness
The Middlemarch Madness is a yearly tradition organized by Professor Andrea Kaston Tange. Students and faculty can select which literary character would make the worst Mac professor, after which an election is held to determine the winner.
April 9th – Coffee House: Fall 2025 course info session
Professors Matt Burgess, Sarah Ghazal Ali, and Amy Elkins will present the exciting course selection for the Fall 2025 semester.
April 16th – MacSlams Poetry Performances
Slam Poetry is an event where students can sign up to perform their poetry live. There is usually a competitive section with judges, as well as a non-competitive section for poets who do not want to be graded on their recital.
April 23rd – Capstone and Honors Projects Presentations
There will be NO COFFEE HOUSE this Wednesday. Instead, please join us in supporting our seniors who will be presenting their Capstones and Honors Projects in the Harmon Room (first floor of the library).
April 30th – Final Coffee House with Karaoke
Come celebrate the end of the semester by treating yourself to snacks and singing karaoke!
These are all the Literary Salons and Coffee Houses planned for this semester. We are excited to see you join us however often and for however long your schedule allows you! We wish all of you the best of luck in the rest of your Spring 2025.