Dear readers and contributors, Congratulations on another academic year finished! We are so excited to publish the amazing work that you have created. From video games to the Black American experience and artistic collages, we have been continually impressed by the breadth of knowledge here at Washington College. With Love, Jessica, Siobhan, & Piper
Internalized Misogyny: How Women Embrace the Male Perspective through a Feminist Lens*
By Jessica Kelso ’26 *Editor Contribution Contributor Biography: Jessica (she/her) is a senior English major with minors in JEP (journalism, editing, and publishing). She was Associate Editor during the 2024 academic year and the Managing Editor in the Fall 2025 semester. Jessica is highly involved in the theatre department, and she works in the Literary House, as…
“The hills had no names and rivers wound they knew not where”: The Breakdown of Empire, History, and Time in Mrs. Dalloway*
By Liam Siobhan Luckey ’27 *Editor Contribution Majors: English and History Contributor Biography: Liam Siobhan is a junior English and history double major. He is the Managing Editor of the Review and very excited to share his own work here for the second time. He also works as an information assistant at Miller Library and…
How Class Determines Sympathy: Differences Between The Song of Achilles and Homer*
By Piper Langenfeld ’29 *Editor Contribution Major: English; Minors: Creative Writing and Journalism, Editing, & Publishing Contributor Biography: Piper is a freshman English major with minors in creative writing and JEP. She is the associate editor for WCR and she is heavily involved in the dance club. When she’s not in the library studying, she…
Featured Artist: Isabel McCreary ’27
Major: Biology; Minor: Chesapeake Regional Studies Contributor Biography: Isabel McCreary is a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Chesapeake Regional Studies. She loves to be outside, and spends most of her free time sewing, painting, collaging, and tending to her small orchid collection. Brief Description: This piece is my take on the Empress, the third…
“Margo, / I cannot bear to watch the nations cry:” Vision, Voice and Injustice in “The Fortunate Traveller”
By Logan Monteleone ’26 Contributor Biography: Logan is the News editor for The Elm and a peer writing tutor at the Writing Center. Brief Description: This analysis of the 1981 poem “The Fortunate Traveller” by St. Lucian writer Derek Walcott considers how vision and voice function as literary devices that enable the speaker to reckon with injustice through poetry. The following…
Featured Artist: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ’26
Contributor Biography: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick is an art history major from Catonsville, MD. After graduation she is pursuing a master’s degree in art history at American University. In the future, she hopes to work in a museum to share her love of art with others. In her free time, she enjoys reading, making art, and watching really bad movies. Brief…
Assembling Identity: Blackness and Agency in Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father
By Sheri Swayne ’26 Major: English; Minor: Creative Writing Contributor Biography: Sheri Swayne is a senior from Baltimore, MD, majoring in English with a creative writing minor. She is obsessed with Toni Morrison and writing critical pieces on racial topics. She’s the editor in chief of Collegian, president of Intervarsity, and enjoys reading, R&B, and action movies. If you ever…
Racial Inequality in the Hollywood Film Industry: Acknowledging Black Actresses
By Sheri Swayne ’26 Contributor Biography: Sheri Swayne is a senior from Baltimore, MD, majoring in English with a creative writing minor. She is obsessed with Toni Morrison and writing critical pieces on racial topics. She’s the editor in chief of Collegian, president of Intervarsity, and enjoys reading, R&B, and action movies. If you ever need to have a productive conversation with…
Bone Black: Forms of Remembering Black Girlhood
By Sheri Swayne ’26 Major: English; Minor: Creative Writing Contributor Biography: Sheri Swayne is a senior from Baltimore, MD, majoring in English with a creative writing minor. She is obsessed with Toni Morrison and writing critical pieces on racial topics. She’s the editor in chief of Collegian, president of Intervarsity, and enjoys reading, R&B, and action movies. If you ever…
Understanding Mary and Eve as Part of an Interconnected Narrative through Depictions in Manuscripts
By Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ’26 Major: Art History; Minors: French Studies and Museum, Field, and Community Education Contributor Biography: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick is an art history major from Catonsville, MD. After graduation she is pursuing a master’s degree in art history at American University. In the future, she hopes to work in a museum to share her love of art…
Mending as a means of Memory Making and Resistance
By Melchior Tuerk ’26 Contributor Biography: Mel is a senior who cares a lot about people and their stories. In their last semester at Washington College, they are enjoying the library terrace, walks to get ice cream, and time spent with friends. They look forward to returning home to the Lehigh Valley after graduation in May,…
Featured Artist: Faye Dorman ’26
Title: unfinished basement By Faye Dorman ’26 Contributor Biography: Faye Dorman is a dual major in Communications and Economics from Mohnton, PA. She is an active member in Dance Club, and is a member of several academic societies on campus. In her free time, she likes to draw, paint, and write, usually while “watching” a new show or movie. Short Description: For…
Featured Artist: Faye Dorman ’26
By Faye Dorman ’26 Contributor Biography: Faye Dorman is a dual major in Communications and Economics from Mohnton, PA. She is an active member in Dance Club, and is a member of several academic societies on campus. In her free time, she likes to draw, paint, and write, usually while “watching” a new show or movie. Short Description: For this assignment, students…
Griselda Gambaro and the Fight for Justice
By Juliana Santiago-Batista ’27 Contributor Biography: Juliana Santiago Batista is a Theatre major and Creative Writing minor from Carolina, PR. She believes people should learn more about Latin American theatre and their impact towards their countries. Juliana enjoys reading plays that feature powerful women, writing horror, and playing videogames with friends. She hopes to pursue a career in Acting…
Environmental Humility through Spirituality
By Maria McGinnity ’28 Contributor Biography: Maria McGinnity is a sophomore majoring in English with a minor in Creative Writing. She enjoys writing short-form fiction and essays and loves exploring new ways to be creative. When not writing, she enjoys reading, exercising, listening to music, and spending time with friends. Brief Description: For this writing project, I read works by Annie Dillard and compared…
The Amygdala’s Role in Horror Video Games
By Tamzin Maines ’29 Majors: Biology and Environmental Science Contributor Biography: Tamzin is a freshman at Washington College, seeking a degree in environmental science and biology. She has a passion for understanding evolutionary processes and how adaptations influence the organism. She further explores the environment with her land-trust to maintain habitats and track populations of horseshoe crabs. Brief Description: We frequently see the…
Note from the Editors
This issue features SCEs from across majors— from music and environmental science to English and anthropology– and each work explores themes, topics, and texts in ways that challenge disciplinary boundaries and spark creative, critical thinking in the spirit of the liberal arts tradition. We encourage you to learn something unexpected while reading these stand-out SCEs….
Foreman’s Patch: Learning from Macroinvertebrates
A Senior Capstone Experience by Kami Lentzsch ’25 Submitted to the Department of Anthropology Advised by Dr. Scott Erich Contributor Biography: Kami graduated from Washington College summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Anthropology with a minor in Chesapeake Regional Studies. As a senior, she was awarded department honors in Anthropology, Lambda Alpha Senior…
Monks, Monsters, and the Theories of Humor: Analyzing the Margins of the W.102 Book of Hours
A Senior Capstone Experience by Shannon Smith ’25 Submitted to Department of Art & Art History Advised by Dr. Aileen Tsui and Dr. Benjamin Tilghman Contributor Biography: Shannon Smith graduated from Washington College in Fall 2024 with a degree in Art History. She currently works at Winterthur Museum, Gardens & Library in DE, where she…
Dupixent in Asthma Care: Early Pediatric Intervention and the Ethics of Drug Pricing
A Senior Capstone Experience by Vani Chauhan ’25 Submitted to the Departments of Biology and Business Management Advised by Dr. Jennifer Wanat and Dr. Caddie Putnam Rankin Contributor Biography: Vani graduated summa cum laude from Washington College as a Biology and Business Management double major with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. During her time at WC she conducted research as part of the Toll Fellows research program and was a portfolio manager…
An Interrogation of “a truth universally acknowledged”: Repositioning Romance in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
A Senior Capstone Experience by Lucy Verlaque ’25 Submitted to the Department of English Advised by Dr. Katie Charles Contributor Biography: Lucy Verlaque graduated summa cum laude from Washington College in May 2025. She was the recipient of the Maureen Jacoby Prize and a finalist for the Sophie Kerr Prize. As a WC student, Lucy spent most of her time involved with…
Revolutionary Marketing: How the Hunger Games Franchise Promotes and Dismantles Political Agency and Authenticity
A Senior Capstone Experience by Heather Fabritze ’25 Submitted to Departments of English and Communications & Media Studies Advised by Dr. Courtney Rydel and Dr. Stephanie Brown Contributor Biography: Heather graduated from Washington College with a B.A. in English and Communication & Media Studies. At graduation, she was awarded the Communication & Media Studies Capstone…
The effect of CuSO4 on visual development in larval Danio rerio
A Senior Capstone Experience by Evan Merk ’25 Submitted to the Departments of Environmental Science and Studies and of Biology Advised by Dr. Martin Connaughton and Dr. Leslie Sherman Contributor Biography: Evan Merk (he/him) is a recently-graduated biology and environmental science major. On campus, he was a biology lab teaching assistant, Writing Center peer tutor, and an…
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