The Wolf Magazine

Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: Fine Arts and Culture

Media Credit: Courtesy of Liz Scott Liz Scott Professor of 15 years, teaching feature writing.

When Liz Scott starts the first day of her Feature Writing class, she doesn't need an introduction.

Dressed in a black coat and seated at the head of the room, she watches as students file in, one by one, to sit at the computers in room 439 of the Communications/Music Complex. As they look up at her silver hair and big smile, she greets them by stating clearly, "I am Liz Scott Monaghan. Call me Liz Scott." One girl stares at her, smiles, then replies just as clearly, "I know."

Scott tells the students what they will learn from the class. Students will learn not only how to write a good feature, but how to sell that feature to publications, she says. She instructs students to open up the Wiki program, a BlackBoard-like function that allows students to post their work for classroom discussion. Her soft, high voice carries over the classroom easily, as she says that she expects students to get to class at 9:30 a.m., sharp, despite tendencies of students who are involved in student media publications to stay up late the night before. After this brief talking-to, she tells students to begin writing their first feature, with the first draft due at class's end. When less than ten minutes remain in class, students begin to clear out, and she tells them she is excited to read what they have written. When the last student is finished, she gathers her things and locks the door, leaving Loyola for the hour and a half long drive to Folsom, La. until the same time, next week.

This is what the communications professor has fallen into a routine of doing for the last 15 years. But after classes end this semester, Loyola students will no longer have the opportunity to have class with the professor whose reputation proceeds her.
Scott's retirement leaves students, alumni, and faculty reflecting on how she has impacted them throughout her time here.

Scott began teaching at Loyola on a one-year non-renewable contract, as an adjunct faculty member.

"With one thing and another, I kept getting renewed anyway," she says.

She left the university once before in 2006, and bought a house in Folsom, "to enjoy country life," Scott says.

But the communications department soon asked Scott to fill in part time. She accepted, agreeing to teach classes once a week.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools