I heard about an attendance policy.  Is there one?
Technically, we'd like it if you didn't miss more than three meetings a semester (at least that's what our constitution says·), but we're flexible.  Translate: no one's counting.  Just come as often as you can. 
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Where can I find guidelines on how to critique a piece?
The creative writing professors have kindly provided us with some of the guidelines they give their classes, and Iâve added some ideas of my own.  See them here.
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What are the rules for weekly critiquing meetings?
These discussions are pretty free-flowing, but there are a few rules we use to avoid excess confusion and tangents. 
Be honest, but remember to share the writerly love.  We don't want hard feelings. 
The president moderates our discussion, calling on members to speak as they raise their hands.  A still hand means you have something to say on a new topic; a waving hand means you have something to say which is related to the current topic. 
Usually we start out with comments on what we liked about the piece, then move on to what could be changed, but this isnât really a hard-and-fast rule. 
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How do I become part of this semesterâs Editorial Board?
Just let our illustrious president know, via email (golem@allegheny.edu or kellerc@allegheny.edu) or at  a meeting, that you're interested in being on the Ed Board once the submission deadline is close. 
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How does the Editorial Board work?
You will receive all of this semester's submissions, with authors' names deleted, along with a ballot, via email a week or two after the submission deadline.  You will also be notified of the date on which the Ed Board is meeting to discuss the submissions and cast final votes for each piece.  Before the meeting you should read each submission and tentatively mark Yes, Maybe, or No on your ballot.  Your decision for each piece should be based on its artistic strength, rather than on whether you liked it or not.  For guidelines on what makes a strong poem/story, go here.

At the meeting, members have the chance to request discussion of the submissions on which they are not sure how to vote.  If all members are satisfied with their tentative votes on a piece, the piece is not discussed.  The point of discussion is to help each member arrive at his or her own decision, not to persuade people to vote a certain way. 
Once discussion is finished, members mark their final votes.  Yes, Maybe and No are assigned point values, and a cutoff point amount is determined.  Points are tallied from all membersâ anonymous ballots, and those that receive more than the cutoff amount are included in the journal. 
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