This Year’s Theme: The Power of Storytelling
Program Schedule
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025 (English Department Lounge – Great Hall Annex)
3:00-4:00 p.m.: Book Discussion
hosted by Sigma Tau Delta
Moderated by Jeffrey Jackson, Ph.D.
Organized by members of Sigma Tau Delta. The Toni Morrison Book Club will discuss Morrison’s Sula
Friday, Feb 21, 2025 (Pozycki Auditorium)
10:05-11:25 a.m.: Keynote Speaker, Autumn Womack, Ph.D.
11:40 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Faculty and Student Composition Panel: “Intelligent Struggle is Needed . . .”: Writing for Racial and Linguistic Justice in the First-Year Composition Classroom
Moderator: Prof. Beth Sara Swanson
Presenters: Dr. Courtney Wright-Werner; Prof. Beth Sara Swanson with Jessica Mendez-Alonso; Prof. Linda. Sacks; Prof. Jennifer Harpootlian with Kailyn Bloch & Kristen Sarnicola
1:15-2:15 p.m.: Toni Morrison Book Discussion: The Origin of Others
Moderator: Dr. Lynn Siracusa.
Panelists: Dr. Lynn Siracusa, Prof. Joe Torchia, and Prof. Noel Belinski
2:15-3:15 p.m.: Toni Morrison Day Digital Poster Contest and Creative Writing Contest
Winners will be announced by Kurt Wagner, University Librarian
3:30-5:00 p.m.: Special Guest – A Reading by Professor John Vercher
Prof. Vercher will give a reading from his work followed by a conversation with members of Sigma Tau Delta
Creative Writing Contest
Organized and Sponsored by the Monmouth Review Club
This year’s theme is The Power of Storytelling. We invite submissions that engage with this theme along with other aspects of Toni Morrison’s work and legacy, including but not limited to social justice, civil rights, Black history, race, gender, diversity, and inclusion.
Eligibility: Contest open to all Monmouth University students.
Deadline: Dec. 6, 2024
Submit: Up to three poems (maximum six pages to
tal) or two prose pieces, fiction or non-fiction (maximum eight pages each, double-spaced, Times New Roman). No cover letter necessary. Type your name only at the top of the first page. You may submit work in both categories (prose and poetry).
Upload the submission(s) in the Toni Morrison Day Creative Writing Contest 2025 folder in the Monmouth Review on eCampus. Note: The Monmouth Review ‘e-course’ might be unpinned).
Only original, previously unpublished poems or prose pieces may be submitted. Submit all work in one file, as a Word document (.docx). Submissions will be evaluated by members of the Monmouth Review editorial board; Monmouth Review club members who are not on the evaluation committee are welcome to submit.
The winners will be notified by Feb. 16 and will be invited to present their work during Toni Morrison Day on Feb. 21, 2025. Additionally, winners will receive a $75 gift card and their work will be published in the 2025 issue of the Monmouth Review.
For more information, please review the extensive “Toni Morrison Day: Informative Reference Guide” in the Monmouth Review eCampus (under “Course Materials”) before emailing Editor-in-Chief Zafira Demiri s1349407@monmouth.edu for more information.
Digital Poster Competition
Sponsored by the Guggenheim Memorial Library
This year’s theme is The Power of Storytelling. We invite submissions that engage with this theme along with other aspects of Toni Morrison’s work and legacy, including but not limited to social justice, civil rights, Black history, race, gender, diversity, and inclusion.
Eligibility: Contest open to all full-time students at Monmouth University. All entries should be submitted on an individual basis.
Entry Limit: One poster per student.
Deadline: Contest opens Nov. 11, 2024. Entries must be submitted by Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.
Requirements: Design a digital poster representing the theme “The Power of Storytelling” in celebration of Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s birthday. The posters may engage with any aspect of Toni Morrison’s work and legacy, including issues related to social justice, civil rights, African American history, race, gender, diversity, and inclusion. Only original work is allowed. If you have a photograph (or images) as part of your poster, please confirm that either you took the photograph or you have obtained legal rights to use the photos/images. Students may access a collection of resources, including past poster submissions, on The Monmouth Review eCampus site.
Poster designs should contain: The name of the event (Toni Morrison Day) and the date: February 21, 2025. *Also include a small credit line with the student’s name.
Poster Size: The poster can be horizontal or vertical, measuring 48″ x 36″ (ratio of 4:3).
Media: Any mixed media suitable for reproduction as a poster is allowed, including computer-generated graphics. All posters must be original art. No trademarked or copyrighted images or phrases should be used.
Submission Format: Digital designs should be submitted as a 300 dpi JPG or PDF. A traditional painting or drawing should be scanned and sent as a 300 dpi JPG or PDF to tonimorrisonday@monmouth.edu.
Winners: Three winners will be chosen by a panel of judges (representatives from the English department’s committee and the Library). The winners will be notified on February 14, 2024 and announced on February 21, 2025. The three winning posters will each receive a $75 gift card.
Display and Rights: The winning poster will be displayed at the University Library AND reproduced on the official Toni Morrison Day webpage. The Department/University will use the poster in whole for display or promotion only. All posters will, however, remain the property of the creator. *Entry in the contest constitutes full permission to publish names and photos of winners and contestants without further compensation. The determination of eligibility of entries and any interpretation of these rules is at the sole discretion of the TMD committee and shall be final and binding upon all entrants.