Happy 2018, and a figuratively warm welcome back to campus! This term, the Miscellany got to catch up with English department administrator extraordinaire, Meggan Clapp. We always come away from our chats with her with a healthy dose of reassurance and solid life advice. Should you find yourself passing the hours in a toasty Second Laird armchair this winter, drop by her office and say hi! On rare and beautiful days, her dogs will also be present.
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This is your third year on Second Laird! What has your favorite part of your job been?
Having the stapler in my office. It brings in a variety of clients, which is sometimes quite amusing. I’ve also come to know a lot more about wasp habits since working here. I’ll save those details for my next interview, though….you gotta keep the reader wanting more.
You are on record as a staunch opponent of a hypothetical bulldozing of Laird. What’s your favorite part of the department building? Does Laird have any cool secrets we might not know about?
I like the staircase, the arches, the high ceilings, the little round window that tops the front of Laird. Honestly, you can probably point to anything old in the building, and I could list something I like about it.
Next time you’re on the third floor, look in the back corner–you’ll see a little door. It’s just a closet, but I like it because it’s one of the few doors in the world that’s made for a person of my stature.
Who are those students in your office all the time, and what is it like working with them?
The minions, as some professors lovingly call them! We have six student workers this year, and they help me with a lot of stuff. Have you ever noticed how exceptionally nice English department scans are? The students are responsible for most of that process–you’re welcome.
You were an English major at Gustavus Adolphus – what parts of college have stuck with you in your work and life today?
Working toward a degree in English helped my writing the most. I’ve always liked writing, but college pushed me to write about topics that I wouldn’t have otherwise explored.
I also learned a lot from my campus job, which just happened to be in the English department (shout out to Jenny Tollefson!!). I’ve applied a lot of what I learned there to my job here at Carleton. For example, the aforementioned scanning practices come from my days at Gustavus.
In a thoroughly unreasonable turn of events, you’re required to comps this year. What do you want to write about, and which professor do you want as your advisor?
I would write about children’s literature, without a doubt. The concept of art imitating life/life imitating art applies to children’s stories in really special ways, so my comps would explore that in some way.
As for my advisor, that’s a trickier question to answer; I think everyone could help me in some way. I would probably have the most questions for Peter and Susan, though, since they both dabble in children’s lit.
Any parting words of advice for the addled English major?
Remember your Oxford commas!