About Us

Our Mission

The Hen & Ink Society serves as a vital bridge connecting students and staff across the University of Delaware community, with a special focus on bringing together voices from smaller satellite and commuter campuses. Through Chicken Scratch, we create a space where students from all corners of our university can share their stories, art, and perspectives—fostering a sense of belonging and connection that transcends physical distance. We feature interviews with faculty, students, and peer mentors, celebrating the diverse experiences that make our community rich and vibrant. Our goal is to promote unification, especially for students in transition to the main campus, and we're excited about the potential for a sister society in Newark to further expand our reach.

As college students, we spend countless hours reading and writing because we have to—for classes, assignments, and requirements. Unfortunately, this obligation can drain the joy from what should be powerful forms of self-expression and creativity. The Hen & Ink Society and Chicken Scratch exist to reclaim that creativity, to remind ourselves and our peers that writing and art can be sources of inspiration, connection, and personal fulfillment rather than just academic duties.

We began this zine as a way to collect student creative works and share them with our community, but it has become so much more. Our mission is to inspire not only our readers, but each other—to create a supportive space where creativity thrives and every voice matters. Through Chicken Scratch, we're taking back our creativity and using it to uplift, support, and unite our community.

Hen & Ink Society

The Hen & Ink Society is a student-run organization dedicated to fostering creativity and literary expression within our community. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and we're here to provide a platform for those voices to be heard.

Through workshops, events, and our publication Chicken Scratch, we create spaces where students can explore their creativity, share their work, and connect with fellow writers and artists. We celebrate all forms of creative expression, from poetry and prose to visual art and multimedia projects.

Chicken Scratch Zine

Chicken Scratch is our flagship publication—a student-run literary and arts zine that showcases the incredible talent within our community. Each issue features a diverse collection of poetry, short stories, essays, artwork, and photography submitted by students.

We publish regularly throughout the academic year, and every submission goes through a thoughtful review process by our editorial committee. Our goal is to maintain high standards while remaining accessible and encouraging to writers and artists at all skill levels.

Get Involved

Contact Us

Have questions or want to get involved? We'd love to hear from you!