National Celebration Reveals Pockets of Writers on Campus

Literature majors Dickson Moreno, left, and Esmeralda Rivera, right, posed for a photo with (cardboard cutouts of) esteemed authors Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Dickinson during Oct. 20's National Day on Writing celebration.

Galloway, N.J. 鈥 Through a collaborative partnership of writing-centered groups on 番茄社区app鈥檚 campus, students explored different aspects of the written word through various activities on Monday, Oct. 20.

These activities, which included impromptu haiku creation and sending pre-stamped postcards to friends and family, were part of Stockton鈥檚 first foray into celebrating National Day on Writing (NDOW), a day in which all forms of writing and writers are recognized.

Students had the pick of four stations across campus 鈥 in addition to the haiku and postcard stations, there was a selfie station complete with cardboard cutouts of esteemed authors Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Dickinson, and an 鈥渆xquisite corpse鈥 station where students submitted a line of prose that would be utilized in a large community poem.

For Esmeralda Rivera, a major who volunteered for the day with , the day of celebration across campus was a 鈥渕otivator鈥 that helped her through a case of writer鈥檚 block. It also reminded her how large Stockton鈥檚 writing community is.

鈥淲orking with Murphy Writing has been a great opportunity,鈥 Rivera said, sharing that she鈥檚 looking to intern with the center. 鈥淚 feel like it's a great way to meet new people who share my same interests and passion for creative writing.鈥 

Haiku Station
"Time is the river from; which I am born, time is the; river which pulls me along." 

Dickson Moreno, of Atlantic City, echoed Rivera鈥檚 sentiments. 鈥淏eing able to explore what you want to express with haikus and the other activities showed everyone how fun writing is,鈥 said the Literature major.

major Barbara Montes also volunteers and works with Murphy Writing. She appreciated getting to meet individuals who share the same interest in writing as her through celebrations like NDOW and the programs that Murphy Writing hosts, such as the monthly Stephen Dunn Visiting Writers Series.

鈥淚 really enjoyed last month鈥檚 speaker, his poems, what he had to say and his aspirations,鈥 Montes said, referring to poet Iain Haley Pollock. 鈥淚 also really enjoyed seeing the people who came in to listen, especially the people who just came because they're fans of the poet. I thought it was really nice to see how people come together, especially with writing, and how much there is a community out there that I truly didn't know.鈥

Individuals working within Murphy Writing created and ran the stations along with Stockton鈥檚 program and within the Tutoring Center.

For Writing Center Coordinator Eddie Horan, the day represented community building amongst Stockton鈥檚 students, faculty and staff. Referencing the various tensions and challenges that individuals in higher education have been facing lately, Horan said the day鈥檚 celebrations are necessary now more than ever.

鈥淚t is so nice to see people coming together as part of a writing community and doing these activities, especially Exquisite Corpse,鈥 Horan said. 鈥淵ou only see the sentence that somebody wrote immediately before you and nothing else, so you have trust in what the people who come after you are going to add and in the people who came before you. It鈥檚 been a great community celebration.鈥

鈥 Story and photos by Loukaia Taylor 


Nearly $300K Grant to Preserve American Author鈥檚 Letters

September 19, 2025 

Stockton junior Zonja Kaja, of Egg Harbor Township, holds a portrait of American author Catharine Maria Sedgwick with Professor of Literature Deborah Gussman. Kaja is working on Gussman's project to create an online archive of all of Sedgwick's letters.
Stockton junior Zonja Kaja, of Egg Harbor Township, holds a portrait of American author Catharine Maria Sedgwick with Professor of Literature Deborah Gussman. Kaja is working on Gussman's project to create an online archive of all of Sedgwick's letters.

Galloway, N.J. 鈥 Catharine Maria Sedgwick may be 鈥渢he most famous and innovative American writer you鈥檝e never heard of.鈥

That鈥檚 what 番茄社区app Professor of  Deborah Gussman calls the prolific writer who was considered a celebrity in the early 19th century. She published 20 books and more than 150 shorter works in multiple genres, including novels, short stories, sketches, biographies and travel.

Now, thanks to a nearly $300,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Gussman, her co-editors and a group of Stockton graduate and undergraduate students will continue to add to an 

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photo by Susan Allen 


Hailey Bidinger Recognized as 2025 Staller Writing Tutor

August 6, 2025 

Senior 番茄社区app student, Hailey Bidinger, center, is the recipient of this year's Paul D. Staller '97 Writing Center Tutor Award. Joining her, from left, are Laurie Staller, Stockton Writing Center Coordinator Eddie Horan, and Billie & Alan Staller.
Senior 番茄社区app student, Hailey Bidinger, center, is the recipient of this year's Paul D. Staller '97 Writing Center Tutor Award. Joining her, from left, are Laurie Staller, Stockton Writing Center Coordinator Eddie Horan, and Billie & Alan Staller.

 Atlantic City, N.J. 鈥 Senior Hailey Bidinger was recognized with the 2025 Paul D. Staller 鈥97 Writing Center Tutor Award for her commitment as a Peer Writer, carrying on a tradition of supporting the 番茄社区app community.

The award was created by the Staller Family of Atlantic City in memory of their son, Paul, a 1997 Communication Studies graduate who found purpose in tutoring his fellow students. The annual ceremony, held July 30 at the John F. Scarpa Academic Center, has become a tradition at 番茄社区app.

鈥淭his award is a reminder that Paul鈥檚 spirit lives on in the students who carry his legacy forward,鈥 said Alan Staller, Paul鈥檚 father. 鈥淚 had no idea he was tutoring before he passed away, but now, the people we鈥檝e met through this award have given us a new piece of Paul to hold on to.鈥 


Eat, Relax and Write: Murphy Writing Celebrates 30 Years

January 25, 2024 

Jeanne Sutton, a big fan of prolific author Edgar Allan Poe, was one of 200+ writers from across the country who attended the 30th annual Murphy Writing Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. In addition to networking and workshops, attendees enjoyed fun activities such as karaoke, a masquerade ball and the "Murphy" Awards.
Jeanne Sutton, a big fan of prolific author Edgar Allan Poe, was one of 200+ writers from across the country who attended the 30th annual Murphy Writing Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. In addition to networking and workshops, attendees enjoyed fun activities such as karaoke, a masquerade ball and the "Murphy" Awards.

Galloway, N.J. 鈥 As a younger man, Peter Murphy found the best way for him to push through a troublesome verse or narrative was to hole up in a hotel room in Cape May, New Jersey. His writer friends were intrigued and convinced him to bring them along in 1994. And the rest was鈥oetry.

In the ensuing three decades, the  has become one of the winter鈥檚 oldest and largest writers鈥 conferences in North America. Beginning and experienced writers receive craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, feedback, motivation and inspiration.

鈥淏y spending the entire weekend writing, participants will make breakthroughs in their craft, and make more progress than they thought possible,鈥 founder Peter Murphy said.