RIT to Hold New York College English Association Conference on Oct. 1 and 2

One of the hottest topics in writing and literature will be explored during the New York College English Association conference, Crossing Borders, at Rochester Institute of Technology on Oct. 1 and 2.

Nearly 75 scholars from the Northeast as well as presenters from Indiana, Texas, France and the Philippines will challenge the boundaries of interdisciplinary studies and the role of writing and literature in relation to the humanities, arts and sciences, communication and teaching. Presentations and panel discussions will start at 9 a.m. in the Student Alumni Union on the RIT campus.

“Interdisciplinary studies is a strong and popular current in academics today,” says Rebecca Housel, lecturer in RIT's Department of Language and Literature and conference co-chair. “RIT, with its unique and abundant resources, allows our department to bring the very best to the world of scholarly research and higher education.”

A few of the conference highlights will include:

• John Roche and Linda Reinfeld, from RIT, will present on teaching digital poetry
  
• Zoe Trodd, from Harvard University, will discuss black culture of the 1920s.
  
• Angela Belli, from St. John's University, will present on combining medicine with theatre
  
• Elaine Ognibene, from Siena College, will discuss literature and war
  
• Amit Ray, from RIT, will talk about using cultural studies with writing, such as his class on The Simpsons
  
• Howard Wolf, from State University of New York at Buffalo, will present on the uses of narrative

Mary Lynn Broe, chair of RIT's Department of Language and Literature, will give the key note talk, “'Biting off too much Sky?': Nearly 35 Years Working in the (Women's Studies) Life,” about developing courses and programs using interdisciplinary studies, at noon on Oct. 2, in the Skalny Room of the Student Alumni Union.

Registration costs $60, or $50 for graduate students. Details and registration forms are available at www.rit.edu/~langlit/lang.html. Click on the NYCEA icon.

The event is sponsored by RIT's Department of Language and Literature. For more information, contact NYCEA committee chairs Rebecca Housel at rahgsl@rit.edu and Vincent Golphin at vxggsl@rit.edu.