Writing towards diversity
Fanshawe students will have the opportunity to show off their writing skills as part of two new student-writing contests funded by the college.
The Academic Senior Vice President's Writing Contest for Excellence in Student Writing will be the first writing award of it's kind offered by the college, and will have two main categories: humanities and diversity.
“Diversity is obviously a key issue in our society and a lot of universities and colleges have this type of award,” said Robert Muhlbock, a professor within language and liberal studies division. “As I was creating it, I noticed there weren't any writing awards whatsoever that students could apply to with poems and essays, and I was kind of shocked there weren't any at Fanshawe.”
“They're awards that are long overdue,” said Joy Warkentin, Fanshawe's senior vice president of academic services, is hoping that the awards, especially the diversity award, will help to underline the importance of diversity in community and at the college.
“The use of language and writing is an essential skill that all students should have,” Warkentin stressed. “So it's basically to put an emphasis on writing across the curriculum and the importance of writing in future careers. I really wanted students to think about diversity and it's importance because we're really trying to attract international students, we're trying to attract immigrants to London and to Canada.
“So it's important that people understand diversity to the fullest extent of what it means.”
The humanities category includes history, philosophy, English and cultural studies; along with three other sub categories, science and social sciences, business and technical reports, as well as a poetry and prose section.
“Diversity encompasses anything,” continued Muhlbock. “Age, race, sexual orientation- and you don't have to be a part of a minority to enter, but the idea is that hopefully a lot of people with experience of diversity will share their poetry, essays and speeches.”
A $150 reward will be given to the winners in the humanities categories, and $200 to the winner of the diversity contest, with $150 and $75 going to second and third place respectively.
Student as asked to keep submissions to no longer than 1200 words in length.
The deadline for entrants in the diversity category is March 15, and the final day for entries in the humanities award is April 4. Interested students should drop off their writing, along with a cover page, to A 2003 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The Academic Senior Vice President's Writing Contest for Excellence in Student Writing will be the first writing award of it's kind offered by the college, and will have two main categories: humanities and diversity.
“Diversity is obviously a key issue in our society and a lot of universities and colleges have this type of award,” said Robert Muhlbock, a professor within language and liberal studies division. “As I was creating it, I noticed there weren't any writing awards whatsoever that students could apply to with poems and essays, and I was kind of shocked there weren't any at Fanshawe.”
“They're awards that are long overdue,” said Joy Warkentin, Fanshawe's senior vice president of academic services, is hoping that the awards, especially the diversity award, will help to underline the importance of diversity in community and at the college.
“The use of language and writing is an essential skill that all students should have,” Warkentin stressed. “So it's basically to put an emphasis on writing across the curriculum and the importance of writing in future careers. I really wanted students to think about diversity and it's importance because we're really trying to attract international students, we're trying to attract immigrants to London and to Canada.
“So it's important that people understand diversity to the fullest extent of what it means.”
The humanities category includes history, philosophy, English and cultural studies; along with three other sub categories, science and social sciences, business and technical reports, as well as a poetry and prose section.
“Diversity encompasses anything,” continued Muhlbock. “Age, race, sexual orientation- and you don't have to be a part of a minority to enter, but the idea is that hopefully a lot of people with experience of diversity will share their poetry, essays and speeches.”
A $150 reward will be given to the winners in the humanities categories, and $200 to the winner of the diversity contest, with $150 and $75 going to second and third place respectively.
Student as asked to keep submissions to no longer than 1200 words in length.
The deadline for entrants in the diversity category is March 15, and the final day for entries in the humanities award is April 4. Interested students should drop off their writing, along with a cover page, to A 2003 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
