Sigma Tau Delta

The English department sponsors a chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. The purpose of Sigma Tau Delta is to recognize and promote outstanding scholarship; members are eligible to compete for several $1,000-$2,500 scholarships and rewards, are invited to contribute to the award-winning literary publication, The Rectangle, and have the opportunity to attend national student conferences and conventions. At Loyola, Sigma Tau Delta is also a social club, open to all students, regardless of major, who are interested in literature and creative writing.

Student-run in cooperation with a faculty advisor, Sigma Tau Delta sponsors several events each year. Recent events have included Poetry and Pizza Nights, a visit to the Renaissance Fair, Career Night (at which recent alumni spoke about their professions), the Dead Poets of 1997 (at which two professors read from and talked about some of the poets who died during that year), a debate on deconstruction and literary theory between faculty members, an annual Faculty Spelling Bee, and a departmental Teacher of the Year Award.

Sigma Tau Delta offers two kinds of memberships. Active members must have at minimum a B average and rank at least in the highest thirty-five percent of their class. Active memberships are recognized in the commencement program. In addition, members receive the national newsletter and are eligible for several scholarships and awards. Associate memberships are open to all students, regardless of major.

All English majors are encouraged to join as active members with the association with the International Society such membership involves. Whether active or associate, Sigma Tau Delta provides a unique opportunity to for students to share their work and their love for the literary imagination with other enthusiastic students and faculty.

The department also has its own literary society, LoCoLitSo, which plans many events in conjunction with Sigma Tau Delta.