Students and faculty attend USD's Frankenstein 200! Symposium

Cox said the symposium supported educational outcomes for her courses History of English Literature since 1795 (ENG 236B) and Monsters and Magic (FYI 169D). Jones said the conference tied in with her Elements of Literature (ENG 233) and World Literature (ENG 436) courses.

Cox said the symposium’s presentations ranged from standard literary analysis to pedagogy-focused.

“This meant whether students were freshmen from non-literary disciplines or graduating seniors in education, there was useful information that helped challenge them to think about the role literature plays in culture,” Cox said.

RachelMitchell, an English education major, said she intends to adapt some of the ideas from the symposium into a classroom setting.

Students in History of English Literature since 1795 read “Frankenstein” before attending the conference and noted connections between the conference’s content and classroom conversations about monstrosity, according to Cox.

Shannon Schneider said the symposium gave her a newfound appreciation for the humanities.

“Literature is not solely words on paper; it’s science, psychology, law, and everything in between,” Schneider said.

McKensiWebel said she learned a lot hearing perspectives from law, art, and history majors who presented or served on panels.

Jones said the sessions explored the question of what makes us human.

“My students learned about how seemingly old literature can continue to be relevant and insightful to their own lives,” Jones said. “The conference highlighted ways in which Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ can be read within the context of colonization, racial otherness, gender disparity, and scientific exploration.”

Jones said some of the students observed the conundrum of immortality in “Frankenstein” as a theme in other texts they are studying.

Robyn Pierce said she was amazed that a 200-year-old story still has pertinence in many disciplines.

Lydia Privett said she was interested in how much literature can impact society and how a book like “Frankenstein” can still be recognized in various aspects of culture.

Cox and Jones said, according to the event organizers, CSC was the largest group in attendance.

“They noted that our students asked great questions were impressed at their avid participation. Joel Pace, the guest speaker, also mentioned he appreciated our students’ contributions to the pedagogy workshop. They made astute observations and engaged actively in the group assignments,” Cox said.

In addition to the conference, some students took time to speak with University of South Dakota faculty about their English graduate school offerings, and others toured the graduate facilities in the law and health sciences departments.

The students who attended are Baillie Ciferri of Loveland, Colo., Shaniya DeNaeyer of Valentine, Neb., Alyssa Ermish of Chadron, Stephanie Gardener of Chadron, Ashten Gerbing of Chadron, Zaavan Gilbert of Grayslake, Ill., Julissa Gomez of Alliance, Neb., Zane Hesting of Chadron, Brittney Hill of Sheridan, Wyo., Marcus Hutcherson of Bakersfield, Calif., Aaron Jones of Custer, S.D., Jessica Lotierzo of Las Vegas, Nev., Kyra Mack of Lead, S.D., Kaitlin Macke of Lead, S.D., Rachel Mitchell of Riverton, Wyo., Robyn Pierce of Gering, Neb., Lydia Privett of Wahoo, Neb., Shannon Schneider of Cody, Neb., Nalani Stewart of Colorado Springs, Colo., Branson Taylor of Box Elder, S.D., CaLee Thomsen of Wolbach, Neb., and McKensi Webel of Lincoln, Neb.