The Coil wants you!

by Dustin Looney
Courier Staff

It is generally accepted that people perform at their highest level when they are competing for something. Whether it is a sporting event or a literature contest, people usually perform their best when a prize is at stake.

When Mike Seufert became the editor of Monmouth College’s literary magazine, “The Coil,” he had this concept in mind and decided to create two prizes in the Literary and Visual Arts. 

Seufert is a junior English major at MC. He has been interested in creative writing and literature for most of his life. When he was a junior at Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, Ill., he began writing for his school newspaper. The next year, as a senior in high school, he became editor-in-chief of the school’s paper. 

Seufert, whose favorite subject has always been English, began reading heavily when he was a sophomore in high school. He also became involved in drama and appeared in lead roles in several plays. Both traits helped him realize his passion for literature.

Last year, when Seufert was a sophomore at MC, he explored the possibility of writing for “The Courier.” His real passion was creative writing, so writing for the school newspaper did not work out. However, Seufert met Tom Withenbury, director of student publications, through his Courier experience, and Withenbury referred him to “The Coil” and suggested he submit a piece for publication. Seufert submitted a short story, which was published in the 2005 edition of the magazine. 

Last summer, Seufert received a phone call from Withenbury informing him that the Coil’s editor-in-chief position was open, and he asked Seufert if he wanted to apply for job. Knowing that this could be a good opportunity to further explore and develop his love of literature and the arts, Seufert applied and got the job. 

The task at hand is not an easy one, though.  Over the past several years, “The Coil” has not been treated very respectfully on campus.  Many students at MC do not even know that “The Coil” exists or what it is. Last year, the editors had trouble just convincing people to submit pieces to the magazine.

Mike Seufert’s goal is to change all that for the 2006 issue and make it a prestigious honor to be published in “The Coil.” The next issue of the publication will be released in the spring of 2006, and Seufert hopes that The Coil’s prizes in the Literary and Visual Arts will help him accomplish his goal.

This contest is open to all students, and he said everyone is welcome and encouraged to enter. In order to enter, a student must submit an original work of art to “The Coil.” The entry can either be a literary arts piece (short story, poem, article, editorial commentaries) or a visual arts piece (painting, drawing, photograph, and photograph). A student may enter more than one selection in either category. A winner will be selected by a panel of five judges. Each category will have one winner who will receive a prize and special recognition in “The Coil.” 

Seufert is one of the judges, and he has hand-selected the other four judges, all of whom are juniors at MC: Morgan Mikita, Jaime Calder, Chris Maurer, and Amanda Bloomer. All of the judges are in the top of their classes in their respective majors, and they all have an appreciation for the literary and visual arts. 

The panel will judge each piece independently, with no information regarding the author/artist who wrote it. They will then agree upon a winner for the literary arts and a winner for the Visual Arts.

Seufert believes the competition will increase people’s interest in submitting items to The Coil for publication, and eventually make it an honor to be published in the magazine. He knows there are talented writers and artists at MC, and it is just a matter of locating them and getting the word out.

“Even though our college’s main focus isn’t on the fine arts, it’s still a big part of our lives, and therefore, should be a part of our education,” said Seufert.

To submit your entry, simply turn it in to Seufert or any of the judges listed above. Entries will be accepted via e-mail, regular mail, personal delivery, or any other way you can think up, just so long as the judges actually receive it. Some entries have already been made, so “the sooner, the better,” says Seufert. A deadline for entries has not yet been determined. 

Seufert hopes the contest will draw many entries and be a huge success. He wants “The Coil” to gain a reputation as a prestigious publication at Monmouth College and beyond, and he hopes the contest can help accomplish that goal starting this year and for many years to come.