A staircase in Wells Hall that is typically used by busy students rushing to class was transformed into a stage for 15 performers, including three special musical guests on Friday, April 14.
The Creative Writing Program, directed by Divya Victor, partnered with the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities Center for Poetry to create "Live Lit: a celebration of creative expression."
Each act presented a performance with a unique theme. Students confronted themes of climate change, love, passion and even deforestation in their work.
“It is a kind of celebration and high point that shows us the kinds of work that our creative writing students are doing across campus,” Victor said. “It showcases the variety of viewpoints and aesthetics and styles that our students are playing with right now at this point in their writing lives.”
Roughly 60 people in the audience watched the performers, meeting each act with an applause.
English senior Valentine McWilliams shared a story about transgender visibility, love and acceptance. Her piece was titled “Trans Love Keeps Us Warm.” It focused on the Colorado Springs nightclub shooting and the impact it had on her.
She said the focal point of her piece is the love that she has been able to create for herself, with the help of the people in her life.
“The love that I have in my community and especially in my partner have made such significant changes in my life,” McWilliams said. “Even in the face of extreme adversity and oppression, I’m able to find happiness within myself, within my community and within my life through the love of other people and love for myself.”
Geoscience fourth-year Julia Rudlaff shared an excerpt from a memoir they are working on about ballet, the training process and how it causes a loss of childhood and eating disorders. They also wrote a poem about the Feb. 13 mass shooting on MSU's campus and life since then.
Rudlaff said they went camping alone for a few days after the shooting to “reconnect with the beauty in life” and discover the reasons why they keep living every day.
Their favorite line from their poem was, “I will live because I must not be afraid.” Rudlaff had a fear of speaking in front of an audience, but that was quickly quieted by the uproar of support they got after completing the excerpt and poem.
“Live Lit is something we all make together,” Victor said when first greeting the audience.
