The Retort

Sigma Tau Delta

January 29th, 2010 by Bailey Martin Of The Retort Staff

Sigma Tau Delta (STD) is the international English honor society and their MSUB branch is being recognized at this spring's national convention for their 25th anniversary. In 1984, MSUB's branch was chartered and since then they have been fulfilling their mission to promote the love of the literature, writing, and language. Rachel Schaffer is MSUB's STD advisor and the current officers are: President Heather Wilson, Vice President Mary Baty, Secretary Anneke Johnson, and Treasurer Justin Link.

STD's two main activities, the Writers Roundup and campus-wide poetry contest occur every year. The Writers Roundup is their December fundraiser where local authors sell and sign books. Funds raised from the Writers Roundup finance textbook scholarships for English majors. The campus-wide poetry contest is held in the spring (the contest's date for this year has not yet been set) and the winning poems are published in The Retort and displayed in the LA Building.

In past years, STD has also hosted a drive for the homeless where they have gathered hats, scarves, and gloves. Last year their president and vice president were the driving forces behind a literacy project where STD members gathered enough money to buy a copy of The Monster at the End of the Book for every Head Start student in Billings, Hardin, Joliet, and Red Lodge.

Last year, Rachel nominated STD for Outstanding Organization by Category, Outstanding President of the Year, and Outstanding Service Project. STD’s Jolinda Livesay won Outstanding President of the Year and STD won Outstanding Organization Service Project for their literacy project.

If you would like to become a member of STD, you do not have to be an English major, but there are a few other requirements. First, you must have a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the courses that MSUB requires in English. You also need to have a minimum of a B in English and in general you must be ranked in at least in the highest thirty-five percent of your college class. Lastly, you need to have taken at least three semesters of college course work.

STD's meetings are irregular, but you can always contact Rachel about meeting times and places and anything else about STD. You can also check out STD’s website at Sigma Tau Delta

Rachel Schaffer

Phone: 657-2954

E-mail: rschaffer@msubillings.edu

Office in the LA Building, Room 426