A new academic year at Mercyhurst University has a different meaning for everyone. For the English Department, it means another exciting year of Literary Festival events.

In the past, department professors Kenneth Schiff, Ph. D., and Gregory Brown Ph. D., have chosen speakers to come and perform readings for students and discuss their careers.

Last year, Karen Joy Fowler, author of ‘The Jane Austen Book Club’ arrived on campus to speak to the student body about her struggles and successes as a writer.

She read aloud from her newest book, ‘We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves,’ while also filling in the audience on the history of the novel, and stayed after to sign books.

Poet Mohja Kahf also made an appearance to read from her published collection of poetry, which was both artistic and informative of the struggles occurring in her birthplace, Syria, at the time.

The final, climactic event of each year’s festival, however, is the unveiling of Lumen.

Lumen is the university’s literary magazine, which showcases the artistic works of the Mercyhurst students.

Each year, the staff of the magazine accepts submissions, ranging from short stories to poetry, and chooses what to add to the magazine.

As of today, the staff is officially accepting submissions.

Students whose works are chosen to be featured in Lumen will not only have the honor of being published in the magazine, but a chance to win money for their writing.

The three best submissions will receive cash prizes of $250 for first place, $150 for second place, and $100 for third place.

The awards will be given at the magazine’s unveiling reception on Thursday, April 23, and afterwards there will be an open mic for anyone wishing to share their other works.

All submissions should be in Microsoft Word and sent as an attachment to the Lumen staff’s email, lumen@mercyhurst.edu.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 5.