The Legend of "The Brown Lady"

Any university campus that’s been around for this long—Chowan University was founded in 1848—really ought to have its own myths, and so Chowan does in the legend of “The Brown Lady.” More than a hundred years ago, she was described in the school’s yearbook as the daughter of a wealthy family from the region who honored her parents’ wishes by attending Chowan, putting off marriage to her fiancé, but tragically dying during her sophomore year. A different version of her legend has her jumping to her death from the top floor of the school’s famous Columns Building after her husband (or fiancé) dies during the Civil War. But the main detail that remains the same in every version is her preference for wearing a brown gown made of taffeta, one that would rustle as she walked that has earned her the name of “The Brown Lady.” Legend also consistently figures her as a silent ghost, only recognizable by the rustling of her dress in the hall or on the breeze. But her legend continues to speak at Chowan, now honored through an annual quiz bowl tournament pitting teams from different departments against each other (The Brown Lady Academic Bowl) and the magazine that you’re now reading.

Editorial Board

Timothy Hayes

Faculty Editor

Associate Professor of English

Destiny Vaughan Graphic Design & Studio Art

Honors College Student Association

Olivia Wheeler

Elementary Education

Honors College Student Association

Flaire Novak

Business Administration

David Ballew

Associate Professor of History

Bo Dame Professor of Biology and Physical Sciences

Danny B. Moore Professor of History

Jennifer Groves Newton Assistant Professor of Graphic Communications

Catherine Vickers Instructor of English

Welcome

Welcome to the 11th edition of The Brown Lady, a creative and academic magazine that honors some of the most impressive work created by Chowan University students during the past year! I invite you to explore and celebrate the impressive array of outstanding writing and artistic creations in this issue. Two important things to notice this year: First, we begin our second decade with a bold new overall design. And second, we take time to celebrate the legacy of other magazines created by past students in this special year, the 175th since Chowan’s founding in 1848.

This year’s edition begins with Crystal Bibbins’s story, “Emotional Mess (Sweets),” which captures an important slice of college life: the roommate experience. This is followed by our first block of art. Dave Clark’s vibrant “FLY GUY” and Destiny Vaughan’s iconic and colorful “Blinding Pigments” (also featured on our cover) bookend two striking and up-close glimpses of nature from Skadi Kylander: “Lingering Lithobates” and “The Perfect Spot.” Erica Mock’s celebration of Egypt’s first female Pharaoh, “Hatshepsut,” closes out the first half of this year’s edition.

Our second art section comes next. Destiny Vaughan’s accomplished “Mirror Reflection” joins a long line of artists creating self-portraits. Sreshta Puducheri takes our centerfold this year, presenting two vivid and candid views of Indian life, “Rajputs” and “Chai Time.” These are followed by Corey Spruill’s skillful capture of the messiness of life in his “Chaotic Mind.” We return to creative writing next, starting with two different versions of hiding. Daniel Horne’s “A Day in the Life of Covid-19” captures with great perception the enforced isolation of the early days of the Covid pandemic. And Amber Mann portrays a form of self-isolation in her poem “Hiding in Plain Sight.” Following these poems is Connor Smith’s memorable and atmospheric encounter with nature in his story “A Night with the Dogs.”

In the final third of the issue, more treasures await. One final art block offers great variety and innovation. Hamilton Darden II’s “Wally Spiked” has the look and refinement of a professional advertisement. Savion Woodley’s class project becomes much more in his “Wolverine in Fruit.” Beautiful flowers get their moment in the sun in Skadi Kylander’s “Lobelial Gateway” and Destiny Vaughan’s “Golden.” And Tre’yon Grace captures swagger and confidence in his “Color Tree.” Next, Amber Mann honors the power of “Secrets” in her poem. Marshall Stevens tells a harrowing yet triumphant story of personal struggle in his story “Our Virtual Demons.” And David Joyner closes this year’s issue with an impressive exploration of a different side of C.S. Lewis—his harsh criticism of imperialism and racism—in his essay “Silence No Longer.”

On behalf of this year’s editorial board, I invite you to spend some time with each of these remarkable works in the weeks, months, and years to come. I hope you are as proud of these gifted students as we are. Enjoy . . . and, as always, be sure to congratulate this year’s contributors!

Dr. Tim Hayes Faculty Editor