By Jennie Burroughs

The Department of Language and Literature held a Celebration of Words event at the Robert F. Kidd Library February 12. Light refreshments were provided while participants presented. Ken Lang was the first to participate by reading a chapter of his True Crime book called Walking Among the Dead. Lang worked at the Baltimore County Police department for 15 years. He stated that he wrote the book for the people whose stories were forgotten when he was on the job.  

Dr. Jonathan Minton, an English professor at Glenville State College, also read from his book called Technical Notes for Bird Government. Minton’s book contains a collection of poems written by him, some which he read out-loud during the event. After Minton, Professor Dennis Wemm acted out a scene from the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Wemm is a professor of Communications and works in the Language and Literature Department where he teaches speech and theater. He has also produced many plays including Mandate for Murder, Beauty and the Beast, and The Cripple of the Irishman. 

Jason Gumm was the last person to read at the event. Gumm is a staff librarian at the Robert F. Kidd Library. He read a passage from Heroes Among Us by Damon West and a statement written by him about Founders Day. The event ended with three door prizes given out: a gift basket, a painting by Dr. Marjorie Stewart and a two books about animals by Professor Melissa Gish.