ARKADELPHIA — Rachel Dunnahoe, a former student at Ouachita Baptist University, earned second place at the 2010 Sigma Tau Delta International Convention for her essay in the Critical Theory, World and British Literature category.
Dunnahoe’s critical essay, “Hey, Fyodor, Leave Them Jews Alone: Dostoevsky’s Anti-Semitism,” calls attention to Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky’s anti-Semitic writing in his journalism and classic novels. The essay was originally written for Ouachita’s Senior Literature Seminar, the English department’s capstone course.
“Her thesis shakes up a traditional view of Dostoevsky as a noble and moral man when, in fact, he did have blind spots and was misguided,” said Doug Sonheim, Clarence and BennieSue Anthony Professor of Bible and Humanities and English department chair. “She also delivered her paper professionally and confidently, which I believe plays a part in the judging. After reading her paper, she answered questions with confidence and humility.”
Dunnahoe was one of five Ouachita English majors to make the trip to St. Louis, Mo., for the convention. She and the other students presented their original work to 800 participants from throughout the United States, attended lectures of renowned authors and toured St. Louis.
“All the papers, stories and poems read by our OBU students were excellent, and I would say that more English majors should work hard in their classes to produce this level of goodwork,” Sonheim said, “both for the intrinsic pleasure of work done well and also as a stepping stone to graduate school and/or professional work in the world of literature or publishing.”
Sigma Tau Delta, founded in 1924, is an international English honor society and is part of the Association of College Honor Societies. There are more than 750 chapters located throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Europe with a total of 8,500 members inducted annually. The Ouachita chapter coordinates multiple events for the university such as publishing the OBU literary journal SCOPE, hosting lecturers and conducting high school writing contests.
For more information, contact Doug Sonheim at sonheimd@obu.edu or (870) 245-5554.
Tri-Lakes, Pages 60 on 06/24/2010