FUSE_2015_REGISTRATION_FORM

FUSE 2015 OVERVIEW

FUSE is a national network for student editors and writers founded by the Writers Institute of Susquehanna University. Its general goal is to foster visionary literary magazine work for undergraduate journals. FUSE has held a national caucus at AWP every year since 2002 and began holding annual conferences in 2012. The first was at Cabrini College in Philadelphia. In 2013, the conference took place at Davidson College in North Carolina. Bennington College in Vermont was the host for 2014. This year, the conference will be held at Widener University in suburban Philadelphia.

The FUSE conference at Widener will take place over three days—November 5, 6 and 7—and feature speakers from the publishing world, student and faculty panel presentations and discussions, a journal showcase, an open mic event, and even a little bit of literary rock-n-roll. On Saturday morning, there will be an optional half-day excursion to the nearby Brandywine Art Museum, which features the work of the Wyeth family of artists.

Widener is able to accommodate about 100 participants for FUSE 2015. Since we’d like to have the broadest possible participation, we will limit registration to five representatives from each institution, at the outset. We’ll keep a waiting list and reassess as we get closer to the registration deadline.

FUSE 2015 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Will You Look at That?

FUSE Conference at Widener University

November 5–7, 2015

Without question, we live in an age of distraction. Texts and tweets, Facebook updates and Snapchat posts. At any given moment, a thousand things seem to vie for our attention. As undergraduate editors, how do we command attention for the work we devote so much time and energy to producing? The theme for this year’s conference—“Will You Look at That?: Aesthetics and the World of Undergraduate Publications”—will address this and other related questions.

For FUSE 2015, we’re interested in proposals about editorial vision and aesthetic, about what compels the eye and the ear, the mind and the soul. Here are some possibilities:

• the look of undergraduate publications (covers, choice of paper, art, layout and typography, graphic design, web design, etc.)
• undergraduate publications and public relations around campus (drop parties, promotions, design of flyers, etc.)
• mission statements and manifestos
• leadership and vision (bringing others along with your good ideas)
• audience response/responsiveness (getting—and keeping—your readers’ attention)
• the digital space (designing and using websites, blogs, social media, podcasts)
• collaboration and community (working with other publications around campus, creating a community of writers on campus with shared ideas about literary expression)
• the editor as peer reviewer and mentor (defining your role as an editor, techniques for working with writers and artists on campus and on the staff)

We are especially interested in proposals that explore how undergraduate editors shape and share a personal aesthetic in any and all areas of their work: how that aesthetic helps editors choose submissions, work with authors, determine the look and content of the publication, and grow audience. What professional writers and/or publications do you admire, and how specifically have they influenced your editorial vision?

Please submit a proposal of no more than 150 words to Dr. Michael Cocchiarale (mfcocchiarale@mail.widener.edu) by Friday, September 25, 2015. In the subject line of your email, please write: FUSE 2015 Proposal. Proposals should include your name(s), institution, year(s) of graduation or faculty role, email address, and the title of your proposed presentation.

Please note: Widener is able to accommodate about 100 participants for FUSE 2015. Since we’d like to have the broadest possible participation, we will limit registration to five representatives from each institution, at the outset. We’ll keep a waiting list and reassess as we get closer to the registration deadline.

Fees. Below is a breakdown of membership and registration fees.

• Institutional membership: 150. 00
• Member registration fee:  two free students per member institution; additional attendees at nonmember prices.
• Nonmember registration fee: 35.00 for students, 75.00 for faculty.

Checks should be made out to FUSE National and sent (along with registration forms) to the following address:

FUSE National
ATTN: Dr. Catherine Dent
Susquehanna University
514 University Ave.
Selinsgrove, PA 17870

Conference Hotel. The conference hotel is the Best Western Philadelphia Airport South in Chester, which is adjacent to the Widener campus. A block of rooms has been reserved at a rate of 99.00 plus tax. The hotel phone number is 610-872-8100. Rooms may sell out, so please make your reservation ASAP (and before October 4th at the latest).

Deadlines. Please keep in mind the following dates:

• Deadline for proposals: Monday, September 14
• Notification of acceptance: Monday, September 21
• Deadline for registration: Monday, October 5  REGISTRATION_FORM