Over the course of the spring semester, The Scarlet Scribes, Rutgers’ interdisciplinary English club, has planned for a literary celebration to take place this May. What started as a creative rendition of Shakespeare’s beloved play, Midsummer Night’s Dream, has turned into a literary festival fit for historians, artists, and literature-lovers alike. 

In true Shakespearen fashion, the Scribes have gathered a cast of poets and actors to entertain the audience with various articles of historical plays. But fear not, for this is no ordinary poetry reading. Audience members will be fully immersed into the whimsical renaissance period, with a stage set alive with flowers and antiques, and actors dripping in costumes. Inspired by Shakepeare’s very own Globe theater and the uproar in local renaissance faires, this literary festival will be full of furry little satyrs, dazzling fairy wings, and blooming flower crowns. 

In an attempt to creatively revitalize Johnson Park, home to Rutgers Digital Studies department, The Scarlet Scribes are using the existing architecture to immerse their audience members into their magical world of literature. There will be costumed poetry readings with opportunities for audience members to share their own work, or that of their favorite authors, and various stations that will delve into the antique world of our literary ancestors. 

What will the festival include?

Aside from theatrical poetry readings, there will be a ring of stations that allow attendees to gain hands-on experience such as learning how to write with historical writing tools, like quills and even handmade ink. Other stations will include live typists, where attendees can acquire a unique and personalized poem written on a 1940s typewriter by one of Rutgers’ very own students. Learn how to make scrolls, the history of illuminated letterheads, and even how to handle rare and old books. 

In addition to the interactive literacy stations, fellow members of The Scarlet Scribes, otherwise known as Scribes, will be dressed in student designed costumes derived from Midsummer Night’s Dream, and will be present for theatrical readings on stage and poetic knowledge when scurrying around the festival. 

Who are The Scarlet Scribes?

The Scarlet Scribes is Rutgers newest English club. The club was formed in the fall semester of 2024 and has only expanded since then. They are considered an interdisciplinary club due to their academically collaborative nature, combining art, history, and writing into their events. While Poetry in the Park will be a new event added to this semester’s schedule, they are continuing other events such as their Open Mic Poetry Reading at the Writers House. This past poetry reading was held under the theme of Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival that often included writing and orators. This upcoming Poetry Reading  will take place in late April at the Writers House  with a theme of Victorian tea parties. Celebrate student and faculty writing with a cuppa tea and some sweet Victorian inspired treats. The popularity of the most recent poetry reading is what inspired Poetry in the Park, driving The Scarlet Scribes to create an even larger event welcome to  those interested in the many unique aspects of literature, not just poetry.

Poetry in the Park will be a celebration of literature throughout history, allowing attendees to engage in the wild curiosity of the world’s most creative individuals in an interactive way. Celebrate history, writing, poetry, artistry, and more with The Scarlet Scribes on May 1st at Poetry in the Park. Bring a friend, or two, and plan to enjoy an evening of literary fun surrounded by Rutgers’ very own rich literary history.

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Rutgers’ beloved Writers House is partnering up with the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association, a local writing center in the Camden region, to bring their popular Midnight Notes series to campus. Join in for a whimsical night of poetry, open mics, music, writing and even tea. 

The event will take place on Tuesday, February 11th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Rutgers-Camden Writers House on 305 Cooper Street. This event is not only free, but open to the public as well. 

What does the event include?

The event will feature renowned artist and poet, Berlin…!, otherwise known as smoothwaffle on various social media platforms. He will lead the attendees through a writing-based workshop where the theme of the night, Triumph, will be encouraged in literary form. With the chance to not only work with leading and local writers, there will be the opportunity to share your work during the open-mic portion of the night. Alongside Berlin will be the host of the evening, the legendary Camden writer, Reet Starwind, who will help guide attendees on this unique and inspiring literary journey. 

In addition to a night full of writing fun, tea will be served as a courtesy of Hush Herbals. For all those aspiring to have their Dead Poets Society moment, this event might very well be the night thanks to tea, poetry, and passionate writers!

What is the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association?

The Nick Virgilio Haiku Association is a writers house here in the Camden region that promotes “literacy, creativity, and self expression” for “writers of all ages.” In 2010, the association acquired a permanent address for their writing center and since then have been renovating it into the warm and welcoming space it is today. The Writers House is located on 1801 Broadway, less than a 10 minute drive from Rutgers-Camden Campus Center. The Nick Virgilio Writers House offers a list of events throughout the year such as Haiku in Action, a workshop which encourages innovative haikus, as well as their Virtual Open Mics, which features various national poets as well as provides a platform for local writers to share their work. 

The association was named in honor of the internationally recognized poet, Nick Virgilio, who is most famous for his unique articulation of haikus in the 1960s. Virgilio was born in Camden, NJ and attended the local public schools until he ventured to Temple University to earn his undergraduate degree. Aside from his time in Texas, Virgilio spent most of his life right here in Camden where he dedicated the majority of his time to radio stations, poetry societies, and even writing festivals. To this day, Virgilio is credited with the success and popularization of the haiku style of poetry in America, and his works can be found across various publications, many of his unpublished works residing in Rutgers very own Paul Robeson Library. Not only does the Nick Virgilio Writers House honor him, but plans to carry out his legacy with the continual implementation of poetry in the Camden community. 

Teaming Up With Rutgers Writers House

The Writers House, located right on Cooper Street behind the Campus Center, is home to Rutgers MFA in Creative Writing, but provides creative and exploratory events for the whole Rutgers community. Between workshops for high schoolers and beyond, author talks, and visiting writers, there is something for every creative, literature lover. The Writers House is teaming up with the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association to bring the popular Midnight Notes series to the Rutgers campus, allowing students, as well as the public, to get a taste of both organizations in the beautiful, historic building otherwise known as The Writers House. 

This event welcomes writers of all kinds who simply share the same love for writing, creativity and community. Whether you are interested in writing your own poetry or merely listening to others work, then this event is for you. 

Interested in attending other writing events? Follow along for updates!

Nick Virgilio Writers House: https://www.instagram.com/nickvirgiliowritershouse/

Rutgers Writers House: https://www.instagram.com/rucwritershouse/

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This holiday season, there’s a sweet way to give back to the Rutgers-Camden community. The Pre-Law Society and the Honors College have teamed up for a fundraiser with Krispy Kreme to benefit the Scarlet Raptors Nest, the food pantry on campus that supports students facing food insecurity. The fundraiser is ongoing until December 21st, and 50% of the proceeds from every dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts sold will go directly to the Scarlet Raptors Nest.

The Scarlet Raptors Nest is a vital resource for students at Rutgers-Camden who may struggle to afford enough food. The food pantry provides free, non-perishable items and fresh produce to help students in need. However, like any organization, it relies on the generosity of the campus community and its supporters to continue its work.

The Pre-Law Society, in collaboration with the Honors College, initiated this fundraiser as part of an Honors College project. The goal is to raise both awareness and funds to support the Scarlet Raptors Nest in its mission to ensure that no student at Rutgers-Camden goes hungry. The idea is simple: buy a dozen delicious Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and half of your purchase price will go toward supporting students who rely on the pantry for food assistance.

How It Works

The fundraiser is hosted through an online platform, allowing anyone to purchase Krispy Kreme doughnuts digitally. Simply visit the campaign’s website and select how many dozens of doughnuts you’d like to order. You can buy digital dozen certificates, which are redeemable at any participating Krispy Kreme location. These digital certificates can be used for regular Krispy Kreme doughnuts, or you can choose to give them to someone else as a treat this holiday season.

The primary goal of this fundraiser is to sell 100 dozens of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. If that goal is met, it will result in $750 being donated to the Scarlet Raptors Nest. This money will go a long way in helping the pantry purchase more food, provide better services to students in need, and ensure that no one in the Rutgers-Camden community has to choose between buying textbooks and buying groceries. Gloria Campos is the Rutgers student behind this project, and as both an Honors College student and president of the Pre-Law Society, she saw it as a way to combine both interests for a common goal. 

There are a number of ways students can get involved with this project. The easiest way to contribute is by purchasing doughnuts! Every dozen sold is another score for the food pantry. Sick of eating doughnuts? Help sell them instead. Spread word about the campaign to friends,  family, and other students on campus. Or post about it on social media. Every mention counts. You can also donate directly to the campaign through their website. 

In times like these, every act of kindness counts. By purchasing a dozen doughnuts or helping us sell, you’re making a real impact on students’ lives and providing them with the support they need to succeed at Rutgers-Camden. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community, especially as we approach the holiday season.

Help make the goal of 100 dozens of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and raise $750 for the Scarlet Raptors Nest before December 21st. It’s a sweet way to support a meaningful cause. See their website here for more details: https://www.groupraise.com/offer-campaigns/52351-ruc-pre-law-society-rutgers-camden-honors-college-krispy-kreme-digital-dozens/5T8L96#cta-form

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As the holiday season approaches, a new mobile app is gearing up to help users navigate the often chaotic world of budgeting and shopping. Shopden, an innovative platform developed by Rutgers University graduate Mikael La Ferla.

Combining his academic background in finance with a desire to help others manage their personal finances, La Ferla is on the cusp of launching a tool that not only promises to simplify budgeting, but also offers financial counseling to its users.

The Inspiration
Mikael La Ferla’s inspiration for Shopden stems from both personal and professional experience. With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and currently pursuing an MBA in Investments & Wealth Management at Rutgers, La Ferla has an exceptional foundation in financial management. His work as an accountant at PMC Property Group has further highlighted the importance of financial responsibility, not only for himself but for those around him. “When I moved out of my parents’ house, I had to be financially responsible to pay for rent, insurance, food, and more,” he recalls. “I wanted to create a user-friendly tool that could help anyone take control of their finances.” La Ferla initially conceptualized Shopden as a collaborative shopping list app.

However, through extensive research and interviews, he realized the impact that an expense tracking feature could have on users’ financial habits. “It became clear that people needed a comprehensive solution to manage both their shopping and spending,” he explains.

The Process Of Building An App
The development of Shopden has been a year-long journey. The process began with four months dedicated to just researching the idea through surveys and market research. Following that, La Ferla dedicated another couple of months to designing the user interface and user experience on Figma.

The final phase involved nearly six months of coding and development in order to bring his vision to life. The result is a mobile app that allows users to create and share shopping lists, track expenses by linking bank accounts or uploading receipts, and categorize spending across various categories. “We wanted to ensure that users can manage their shopping trips and stay within budget,” La Ferla notes.

When is It Launching?
Shopden is set to launch on December 1, strategically timed before the peak holiday shopping season. La Ferla believes that the app’s features will help users manage their spending during this hectic time. “The holidays can lead to overspending and miscommunication about gift lists,” he points out. “Shopden aims to alleviate these issues by keeping users organized and on budget.” Shopden will be available in both the Google Playstore and the App Store.

How Shopden Benefits Students
One of La Ferla’s primary goals for Shopden is to empower users, especially students, by improving their financial literacy. He plans to focus on reaching Gen Z users who are often navigating the financial challenges of high-interest rates, inflation, and the costs associated with leaving college. “Our digital presence will target campuses like Rutgers and Temple, providing essential tools for budgeting and expense tracking,” he shares.

La Ferla also emphasizes the app’s overall accessibility. “Shopden is designed for everyone, even those who may feel overwhelmed by financial planning,” he explains. He offers free financial consultations to help users with budgeting, saving, and credit building. He even offers financial consulting.

Marketing Strategy
To effectively promote Shopden, the team has devised a multi-faceted marketing strategy that includes social media campaigns, search engine optimization, and targeted email marketing. By leveraging various platforms, they aim to engage potential users and encourage downloads ahead of the holiday rush. La Ferla envisions expanding Shopden’s reach to other campuses and enhancing its features based on user feedback. “Our ultimate goal is to create a community of users who feel confident in managing their finances,” he asserts.

With a focus on helping individuals, particularly students, take control of their financial futures, La Ferla’s app promises to be a valuable resource in today’s challenging economic climate. Interested users can visit the Shopden website to learn more and sign up for updates as the December launch approaches.

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With finals rolling around the corner and page-long rubrics hiding in your syllabi, the Writing and Design Lab is here to help. Otherwise known as the WDL, the Writing and Design Lab is located at 101 Cooper Street. Only two blocks down from the Business building, the WDL is tucked away in the lobby of Camden’s old public library in Johnson Park.

With giant stone pillars, royal-esqe stairs, and a trickling reflection pool in the garden, Johnson Park is not only a scenic walk, but a productive one. The Writing and Design Lab has a team of four student consultants and is directed by Dr. Fitzgerald, an esteemed professor in the English department, and Tyler Fleser, a current graduate student in Rutgers Creative Writing MFA program.

How can the WDL help you?
The WDL welcomes students from all majors, whether you’re a nursing student preparing a research paper, or an aspiring graduate student looking for help with application essays. Consultants can assist with research papers, essays, graduate applications, and even scholarship essays.

The WDL not only assists with writing, but designs as well. The center is equipped with computers, software, and even recording technology, like microphones. Adobe Suite is available to all Rutgers students free of cost and is easy to use on the lab computers. Consultants can even assist students with downloading the programs on their personal computers.

What are the WDL hours?
The WDL is open for walk-in hours Monday through Thursday, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Want to reserve your time with a consultant? Making an appointment with the WDL on Navigate is easy. Either visit the WDL website for the link or sign into Navigate with your Rutgers email.

Virtual appointments are available on Fridays for that last minute weekend help.

Can’t make it in for an appointment?
The WDL has an ongoing series of videos about writing tips and tricks now available on their website. These videos cover topics like free software, grammar practices, and even how to outline an essay. In addition to this curated series of videos, the WDL is now offering workshops as collaborations with professors and different on-campus organizations.

In October, the WDL collaborated with Rutgers Pre Law Society to teach a workshop around writing personal essays for law school applications and is open for collaboration with other campus organizations searching for design or writing assistance.

To inquire about collaboration, visit the WDL website and email rutgers.wdl@rutgers.edu.

As finals start to appear, the WDL is a great resource for either that second set of eyes on your paper or even help organizing your thoughts prior to writing the paper.

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Meet The Undergraduate Review, Rutgers prestigious undergraduate academic journal. While the publication is run by Rutgers Honors College, located on Cooper Street, the publication is currently calling for submissions from all undergrad students for the Fall 2024 edition. 

The Undergraduate Review prints and publishes a new and carefully curated edition for both the Spring and Fall semester. The publication has featured a variety of work such as research, essays, poetry, short stories, artwork, and more. Each semester, the publication looks for two pieces of artwork to publish: one for the front cover and one for the back cover. This artwork acts as the face of each new publication and is accompanied by an interview with the artist. Once printed, the publication is distributed around campus and is kept in both the Honors College as well as the various Dean’s offices’ on campus. Each student published in the publication receives two free copies of the print, but publication is always available in pdf form on the Honors College website. 

Meet the Editorial Board: 

The Undergraduate Review is run by Dr. Lee Ann Westman, the Director of the Honors College, as well as Assistant Dean Gabriel Molina. Dr. Westman first formed The Undergraduate Review in the Spring of 2020 after a group of Honors College students advocated for a publishing platform. As expressed on the journal’s website, it is “an academic journal by the students, for the students.”

The Editorial Board consists of three Honors College students: Sophia Westfall, Nikitha Jeyaprakash, and Gretchen Purvis. 

Sophia Westfall is both an English and Digital Studies major with a minor in Writing. She has been an editor for The Undergraduate Review since the Fall of 2023 and had her research on The Sexual Suppression of Ancient Roman Women and the Theory of Immaculate Conception published in the Fall of 2022. She has assisted in the publication of numerous editions and enjoys the interdisciplinary nature of the journal. 

Nikitha Jeyaprakash is a dual major in Nursing and Health Sciences and expects to graduate in May of 2026. Nikitha has been an editor for The Undergraduate Review since the Spring of 2023. While academically she is interested in research, pediatrics, and maternal health, she enjoys baking and painting as a hobby. 

Gretchen Purvis is an English major with a German minor, expecting to receive her BA in May 2025 and her English MA in May 2026. Her primary research interests are in Gothic and contemporary horror literature and she became an editor for the board in the Fall of 2024 after her paper, “Frankenstein and the Monstrous Self” was published by the board. 

How To Get Published:

The Undergraduate Review is currently calling for submissions for the Fall 2024 edition. They are looking for work from a variety of different disciplines, and are also welcoming artwork for the front and back cover of the book. Whether it’s an essay or a short story, students are welcome to submit up to two bodies of work from a class for each semester. If interested, please fill out the form below.

Submit Work Here

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The Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities introduced its new printmakers space, Proof, this past September and has already offered a variety of different workshops. Their next workshop will be on Monday, November 11th, from 11:20 to 12:20, otherwise known as the free period. This workshop explores traditional ancient Roman printing techniques with beeswax and its sustainable nature. It will cover a brief history lecture on the subject and then allow participants to make their very own beeswax stamps which they can take home.

History of Beeswax Tablets:

The Romans were the first to invent the concept of apiaries: a farmable collection of beehouses. The word stems from the classical Latin word “apis”, which meant bees, and eventually tumbled through time to become what we know as “apiaries” or “apiariums.” Yet, the Romans didn’t organize these collections of beehives to simply satisfy their sweet tooth. While honey had a variety of purposes, such as in cooking, distilling, or medicine, the Romans utilized every bee-byproduct. This included beeswax. 

Romans would harvest this wax to create sculptures, use it as glue in architecture, and even for medicinal purposes. But its most popular use was for writing. Beeswax tablets were commonly used in place of papyrus or any other paper alternative. This was done for many different reasons. Papyrus paper was limited and usually only accessible to the elite unless you made your own. Other than the occasional letter, most plebeians, Roman commoners, had no use for writing. Many wouldn’t even know how. Therefore, papyrus paper was reserved for “important” matters, such as recording laws, historical events, court happenings, and even the occasional story. Beeswax tablets were therefore used in place of those permanent records and were used on a more day-to-day basis. If we are comparing modern day, you would use papyrus paper for your tax returns and beeswax tablets for your grocery list.

How Beeswax Tablets Were Made:

After harvesting beeswax, it would be melted down until it was in liquid form. This liquid was often referred to as liquid gold due to its golden color and its diverse uses. After it is melted, it would be poured into a container of some kind. These were usually thin wooden frames with a lip around the edge to hold the liquid in place as it dried. Then you needed a stylus. Styluses were often long wooden or metal sticks with a thin, sharp end. Styluses were more of a carving tool than a writing tool when it came to beeswax. When the beeswax was dried in its container, you simply used the stylus to carve a relief of your drawing or text.

Beeswax wasn’t used for its accessibility and abundance, however. It was used because of its forgiving nature. Beeswax can be used, melted down, and repoured a seemingly unlimited amount. The only sacrifice one makes when remelting beeswax is its sweet, honey scented smell. Because beeswax is sensitive to heat, you can easily correct a mistake in a drawing or a text by warming it with your finger and smoothing it out again. Its lack of permanency was considered a benefit for its practical uses. 

Beeswax Stamps: Workshop Demonstration

While beeswax tablets are usually the size of printer paper, Proof’s guided activity will work on a much smaller scale. Participants will follow the traditional procedures for making a wax tablet, but instead will carve a stamp design of their choosing. They will then use inks to transfer their design onto paper. This stamp can be used time and time again, or melted into a new design. 

These workshops are an interactive, yet educational way to teach the importance of sustainability in the printing world and the creative possibilities it bears. Proof’s objective is to educate students and workshop attendees in an engaging, hands-on way while also providing a break from traditional everyday studies. Join Proof in its next workshop on November 11th and make your very own Roman stamp.

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By Sophia R. Westfall

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities, otherwise known as MARCH, has just introduced its new printmakers space this fall. Located at 325 Cooper Street in Camden, the center offers space for research as well as community collaboration. MARCH often collaborates with the Writers House as well as visiting authors. Just last year, MARCH announced their newest initiative: environmental humanities, and they are now dedicated not only to preserving the history of Camden, but to using Cooper Street as an educational model for environmentalism, history, and, newly, printmaking. 

The printmakers space is located in the MARCH building and has adopted the name Proof. Aside from student-led research about the history of printmaking, Proof will be offering a series of workshops for students and faculty to attend. These workshops will offer the history of printmaking, with the incredible opportunity to experiment with those various historical methods. However, as part of MARCH’s new initiative, each workshop will be taught through an environmental and regional lens. Many of the materials will be sourced in the surrounding Camden region, while some of the printmaking methods will date back as far as the conception of civilization. 

Proof highlighted one of their upcoming workshops this past September at the Arts and Musical Festival. They offered attendants of the festival the opportunity to make their own anthotype. An anthotype is a negative print using photo-sensitive light and other materials like plants to make the print of. While there are various methods to produce an anthotype, Proof created photosensitive paper by mixing turmeric powder and rubbing alcohol together. This mixture creates a UV sensitive bleach. Once the paper is treated with the mixture, the sun causes a reaction that makes the coloration of the paper fade. By putting objects, or in Proof’s case, stickers, on that paper before being exposed to the sun, everything beneath the object remains dark and the rest of the paper fades light yellow. This creates a negative print visually similar to an x-ray. 

This is one example of the many unique and environmentally friendly projects Proof will be offering at their workshops this semester. Other’s include traditional Roman beeswax printing, making paper from recycled Rutgers paper, or even growing leather out of kombucha SCOBY and orange peels. This upcoming October they will be offering their first official workshop where attendants will make their own fountain ink out of wild blueberries and will get the opportunity to practice their quill penmanship too. While attendants are not expected to come to every workshop, it is encouraged. Each workshop will build upon the one prior, until each attendant produces a complete, biodegradable notebook by the end of the semester. 

Interested in making paper, or learning to bind a book, or grow your own vegan leather? Join MARCH’s newsletter and be the first to sign up for Proof’s newest workshops. 

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