ECC's 'Darfur Anthology' answers call for change
Students and teachers at Elgin Community College will gather Thursday to celebrate a homegrown book project created to raise money for Sudanese refugees.
"The Darfur Anthology" is a collection of work from 33 authors, all of whom have been past visitors to the school's Writers Center.
The book is the brainchild of English professor Rachael Tecza, Connie Orbeta, a graphic design professor, and several of their students.
"This all started from a conversation I had with a few of my students about genocide," Tecza said. "I challenged them to think of how to make a change."
Both Tecza and her students borrowed an idea used by students and teachers a decade earlier to raise money for Bosnian relief efforts.
The group soon went to work soliciting works from the school's list of past visitors. The anthology includes more than 50 previously unpublished poems, short stories and essays.
Among the submissions is a piece from Illinois poet laureate Kevin Stein.
"It's a nice thing to think about how many people have been interested in being involved in contributing," said Kathryn Roberts, a sophomore who helped to proofread portions of the anthology.
The proceeds from "The Darfur Anthology" will go to the International Rescue Committee, a New York-based refugee relief agency.
Since most of the production costs of the book were underwritten by Elgin Community College, Tecza expects all the proceeds to go directly to the agency.
She hopes the sale of the books, which have been available at the school bookstore since June, could garner up to $35,000.
Students and staff associated with the production of the anthology will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in the dining room of the Fox Valley University and Business Center on the school campus for a publication party.
The short program, which will include selected readings and a visual presentation by the school's Spartan Design Club, is open to the public.
For more information on the publication party or "The Darfur Anthology," call Tecza at (847) 214-7578 or e-mail her at rtecza@elgin.edu.