The Collegio Pittsburg's student voice since 1916
Luke Geier Reporter
On Thursday, March 21st, students, staff, and community members gathered in Grubbs Hall to attend the ongoing live event series known as The Distinguished Writers series. For more than 20 years, the creative writing program here at Pittsburg State has consistently brought in writers with national reputations as a way to celebrate literature in Pittsburg.
While the series does not mainly focus on the writing of staff at Pittsburg State, this night was an exception. University Professor of English, Director of Creative Writing, and established poet Laura Lee Washburn was the first to read in which she showcased several of her poems from her newest book, The Book of Stolen Images.
Washburn emphasized the importance of the series and how it allows students to talk and hear from authors whose work is acknowledged nationwide.
“It’s really a good thing for our students,” says Washburn. “They get to meet the authors, they usually come to visit a class, and they get to hear them read their works and explain their works.”
While everyone is welcome to come and listen to the readings, a large portion of the crowd belongs to creative writing students. The series allows students to see that a career in literature is accomplishable.
“We think it’s very important for the students that want to be writers or the students that are studying literature,” says Washburn. “Just to get to see that there are real-life people writing.”
Associate Professor of Creative Writing, Chase Dearinger, also read a chapter from his first novel This New Dark, which was recently released just last February.
In addition to writing novels and teaching classes here at Pitt State, Dearinger is an avid frequenter of the series as well.
For those who may be skeptical about attending one of the events, don’t be afraid. While the series has been known to showcase several prolific writers, the atmosphere is extremely welcoming.
“It’s pretty laid back usually and it’s pretty casual.” Says Dearinger.
While the series has been known to draw in quite a crowd over the years with regulars who’ve attended the events, Washburn expressed how the recent COVID-19 virus took a toll on the attendance.
“Before the pandemic every reading would have a hundred people easily,” Washburn says. “So, we lost some decades of having an audience that was used to coming out on a Thursday night at 7:00 or 8:00 o’clock.”
Despite this obstacle, Washburn and the Creative Writing team are hopeful after a great show out and have several plans for the series in the future.
“Now we’re building it back up,” said Washburn. “And I don’t know I think we had maybe 50 people here tonight.”
The Distinguished Visiting Writers Series is not only a great way for students to build connections, but also a chance for the community of Pittsburg to celebrate the art of writing.
“We always encourage the students to come,” says Dearinger. “And we had a really good turnout of students tonight. We always want more students.”