Observer Fall 2004 Contributors

Liz Amato is a GS writing/literature major from NJ. She is also a single parent who has tended bar for most of her adult life. Her goal is to realize the potential of this perspective and enjoy a creative career with her pen.

Amittai Aviram is pursuing a second BA in computer science at the School of General Studies, and earned his first BA, in English, at Columbia College in 1978, and a PhD in English from Yale in 1984. He was a professor of English and comparative literature at the University of South Carolina, where he taught poetry, poetics, literary theory, and Chaucer, until his new career path brought him to New York City this year. Other poems have appeared in The Paris Review, Central Park, The Pedestal Magazine (online), and, this fall, the Drexel Online Journal.

Esinam Bediako is a senior in Columbia College majoring in English and the creative writing program. She likes all sorts of things, including her mom, her sis, her nuncle, and bus trips. She would like to thank Leslie Sharpe and the writers in the Personal Essay workshop for proving how exciting non-fiction can be.

Emily Charlotte Belli was born in 1983 in Geneva, Switzerland and is now a sophomore at the School of General Studies. Last year, she studied economics at the University of Nottingham, UK but moved to New York, this fall, to attend Columbia University, where she will most likely major in writing.

Ms. Bernstein, GS, is from Dallas, Texas where she has presented her poetry to the SMU Poetry Society. Originally from Philadelphia, her poetry appeared weekly in the North Philadelphia Globe and her articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer where she was employed. She has lived in Minneapolis, MN and Southern California, where she was a staff member and contributor to Magazine Main, of Venice, CA.

Phoebe Day Connell is a senior at Columbia College studying Psychology, Art History, and Creative Writing. More of her work can be seen at www.backboneflute.com.

Cubas de Flores is a 56-year-old senior in the School of General Studies writing program. He was born in Washington Heights and has lived here most of his life. He loves writing poems that convey social commentary.

Ana Del Castillo goes to school at Columbia University as a General Studies student; Her major is Literature/Writing. She is a Sophomore -- but doesn't know when she'll be graduating since she is attending school part-time.

Cindy Hawkins, a 56 year old GS '08-er, likely to major in English and advocate for women in crisis has been writing since she was very young. Fourteen years in the escort business gave her an incredible amount of material, which eventually became "WHOREHOUSE CHRISTMAS"-a collection of fiction pieces...including "Sunni's Riff".

Born in Singapore, Yen Feng now lives in New York City, attending Columbia College as an international student in the undergraduate program. He works part-time as a freelance American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and also teaches in his free time. His favorite poets include Pablo Neruda and Rainer Maria Rilke. This is the first time he is published as a poet.

Kelley McAuliffe is in her senior year at Columbia University's School of General Studies. She is an architecture major who enjoys writing and traveling, particularly writing about her travels. Her piece about her journey to Trinidad turned out to be an unexpected, but exciting adventure.

Jennie Morgan is a sophomore in the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and the School of General Studies, majoring in English and Bible. When not writing, she spends her time in Toronto with her parents, siblings, and pet iguana.

Mary O'Brien, M.D. has been a practicing physician in New York City for the past twenty-five years. She was Associate Director of the St. Luke's ER from 1980 to 1990 and now works at Columbia Health Service. She lives on the Upper West Side with her husband and two sons.

Aleksandra Petrovic is a junior at Columbia.s School of General Studies, double- majoring in Psychology and French. She is currently living in Paris, spending a year studying at the French University.

Ariana Newell is a junior at Columbia college majoring in German literature and film. She grew up in Cambridge, Mass and Seal Harbor, Maine. She now lives in New York and does allot of yoga as well as studying.

Hailing from the glorious, sun-drenched beauty of the western United States, Justin (also known in various circles as, "the Village Idiot," "Woody," and "El Chorizo") is, himself, a sun-drenched beauty. After spending nearly five years in the Marine Corps, Justin's quest for world domination brought him to Columbia's School of General Studies where he has since learned how to wring his hands in a most liberal fashion, and to pretend that he's not one of the most privileged members of society.

Scott Brinker is a senior in the School of General Studies majoring in Computer Science. He never metaphor he didn't like.

Michela is a Hispanic American/Australian who grew up in Germany, and a 3rd year psychology major at Columbia's School of General Studies. Her very first sonnet was published last year in TeenPeople magazine, and she enjoys adding flamenco to her poetry.

Born and raised in a small town in rural Arkansas, Chad Gurley moved to New York City nine years ago after receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Oral Communications and English from Harding University. He is presently a student in the Elective Studies Program of Columbia University's School of Continuing Education pursing Creative Writing Studies.