INK!, USC’s Undergraduate English Association, is not afraid of change. They often revamp to fit every type of English fan, and this year is no exception.
President of INK!, Mikaella Antonio, says that the organization is around a decade old, but “started from a really small, tiny group this year.”
The third-year English and studio art student was introduced to INK! in a class with current vice president Rose Steptoe, a third-year English and history student, as well as the current secretary, Tori Stiefel, a fourth-year English student. She approached them about revitalizing INK! for the next year. Antonio works with her fellow officers like Steptoe, Stiefel and fourth year English, history and art history student Alexis Michalos.
Antonio had a vision for the organization as more of a gathering place for lovers of English, and she was inspired to make that dream a reality.
Steptoe says that she was excited when Mikki came to her. She had presented on INK! at the Literary Conference, which gave her background knowledge about the organization, but knew that the organization had fizzled out. She and Stiefel were more than willing to bring it back into working shape.
"It was really kind of freeing to almost start from scratch," Stiefel said. "We can really bolster this organization up to last longer and so there's more of an enthusiasm that goes with it."
Steptoe says that the organization’s bi-weekly meetings bring together “everyone who has a love of literature, not just English majors, not just English minors.” The meetings generally involve creative writing exercises to try and incorporate literature into each activity. Steptoe says that opportunities like Piranha’s Parlor offers an opportunity for members to explore their creativity.
Piranha’s Parlor is an event where undergraduates can read their creative short fiction or poetry to primarily an audience of peers and is not limited to those looking to be professional writers.
"Our members who aren't English majors — they bring a really good dynamic to the club," Steifel said. "Sometimes you get too caught up in your major ... it kind of brings on a creative side and also makes it a lot more fun."
Neha Malhotra, a third-year biology student, joined INK! as a way of working on communication skills. Although Malhotra is a pre-medical student, she says her dreams of becoming a doctor can benefit from studying the humanities.
"I think English is pretty pivotal for any job," she said. "You have to be able to communicate properly ... so earning skills of communication and writing, that would help with research and patient interaction."
Malhotra also views INK! as a good break from a science-dominated schedule; she notes that it is “easy to get lost in the sciences” and being in INK! provides her with a better connection to Columbia.
Antonio says that her objectives for this year in terms of events are creating more professional and academic centered functions, where they “invite professors to come and talk with us, so that the English major feels more like a community instead of something we leave in the classroom.”
The organization hopes to offer much more than just a gathering for literary researchers to present papers or writers to read their poetry. What Antonio and her board are offering is more ambitious.
Antonio notes that there was a moment after Piranha’s Parlour where everyone stayed behind after the event had ended, and just talked.
"Finally we were at a point where we could just hang out together because we have known each other and we are this literary art community that's growing.”