'Off the Shelf' spotlights local poet

Brian Whittle
News Stringer

"Off the Shelf," a cable television program sponsored by the English department's creative writing committee, will feature poet Wayne Lanter this month.

Lanter, who will read and discuss his works on the program, is an instructor at Southwest Illinois College and the editor of its poetry journal, "River King."

Rosemary Monaco, a graduate student who teaches a class on communications and business at SWIC, is the creator, producer and host of the show.

Monaco said every show has a guest who talks about writing or reads passages. The guests range from professors, teachers, librarians or writers. Friday, the show will feature Gregory Conroy, assistant director of public affairs at SIUE, who will speak about the university's online publication, the "O."

In the future, Monaco said she hopes to have a show on banned books and also wants to have a round-table discussion with members of the SIUE faculty on changing the literary canon. She said she wants people to read more than "just books by dead white guys."

According to Monaco, everyone on campus has been very helpful in getting and keeping the show on the air for two seasons.

"The response to the show has been good and I have received phone calls from viewers who enjoyed the show," Monaco said.

The show appears on Channel 6 at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Mondays and at 6 p.m. on Fridays. The cable channel can be accessed in Cougar Village and the residence halls.