“Synecdoche” – a fancy Greek term meaning “a part used to signify a whole.” If you’re friends with somebody who’s an English major or if you’ve ever read Vanguard’s literary magazine, then you’re probably somewhat familiar with this word.
For the past several years, it has been used to represent Vanguard’s literary journal; a compilation of photos and articles that represent the entire University. As of this fall semester, it now refers to a club sponsored by the English department that aims to represent the whole community of tea drinking, book loving, and composition obsessed students and is appropriately named– The Synecdoche Club.
Like the word implies, the synecdoche club intends to illustrate the entire English major community by showing the rest of the student body a glimpse into their world.
One of their goals is bringing together people from different backgrounds and majors, and uniting them under a common passion and desire to dive into the world of books. Run by seniors Celina Frenn and Ileigh Williams, this is a place where people who love literature, composition, and anything “British” related can gather together and share their interests as a community.
“It’s valuable to meet others who ‘geek out’ about the same things we do,” Williams said. “I think this club is important because it gives individuals who share similar interests a place to come together and fellowship.”
Dedicated to promoting a sense of pride in reading and writing among students and spreading their joy for it across campus, the Synecdoche club intends to hold several events throughout the course of the semester including a T-shirt design contest, possible Monty Python movie nights and even viewing the upcoming film– “Les Miserables” which is based on the novel by Victor Hugo.
“Both Celina and Williams’ vision for club is to bring English majors together with others who love reading and writing. “Our major is largely [but not wholly] comprised of shy individuals who are generally content to sit quietly in class and not get to know one another outside of it,” Williams said. “We hope Synecdoche will give people a way to unite and be a community as opposed to a group of individuals.”
Vanguard’s ever popular mantra is “your story matters”– and it is this motto that the synecdoche club hopes to further. This is a unique association filled with diverse people that have all been influenced by literature in different ways. By gathering together, these undergraduates hope to share with the rest of the student body how literature has impacted them.
Although, the club was started by the English department, it welcomes all who have a love for the literary world and who desire to spend time with like-minded people.
No concrete dates have yet been set for weekly meetings, but the co-presidents hope to have the days and times established in the near future and can be contacted for further information.
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