Sweetland: A Place of Support

  Ameera Kamalrudin doesn’t see Sweetland Center for Writing as simply a place of employment. Instead, she calls it a “space to grow.” When I sat down with my friend Ameera, a senior studying psychology and linguistics, I was just expecting a general description of what it’s like working as a Peer Writing Consultant. Instead, Read More …

What Does an Online English Course Look Like?

To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the University of Michigan’s world upside down would be an understatement. The recent outbreak has shifted all classes to an online format, and sent many students home to finish out the semester there. As an English major currently enrolled in three English classes, seeing how each instructor Read More …

The Great Lakes and Literature Event Review

February is a distinct month in Michigan. Winter is drawing to a close, spring is on the horizon, and pretty soon the Great Lakes will start to generate their waves again. While those gathered in the Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery on February 25th at 5:30 PM ranged in diversity, one thing they all very well Read More …

Fantasy and Science Fiction Matter

If you’ve ever taken a creative writing class in college, you’ve probably heard the same thing I’ve grown to expect on the first day of any given writing class that’s creative in any respect: No Fantasy or Science Fiction Work. The professor might give some long-winded speech about why fantasy and science fiction are too Read More …

Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere

As a college student who has long since deviated from finishing books in one sitting or even just reading for the fun of it (sound familiar?), it takes a lot to keep me invested. I can’t count how many books I’ve started and promptly forgotten due to a weak plot, lackluster characters, or whatever it Read More …

Buzz Alexander: A Legacy Through Social Movement

Buzz Alexander was a professor of English at the University of Michigan, the founder of the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) through the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and, as a foundation to it all, a firm believer in the power of social justice. From teaching classes on human cruelty (the Holocaust, the Read More …

Learning about the Midwest in the Midwest

The University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus is quite unique. The city itself is full of people from all over the country and world, and the campus’ diversity sometimes makes it hard to remember it resides in the Midwest. While those who were born and raised in the Midwest pick up on the things that Read More …

Lisa Makman

Lisa Makman is a lecturer and the Internship Director in the English department at the University of Michigan. Makman welcomes discussions with and among students both in her classes and in personal meetings, which allows for thriving conversations to blossom from any interaction with her. I sat down with her to discuss how she got Read More …

A Summer in Northern Michigan – GLACE Summer Program

As residents of the state of Michigan, whether that be temporarily or permanently, living in a state surrounded by the Great Lakes is something we can often take for granted. The Great Lakes have a lot to offer and so many Michigan students might spend their entire time in the state without experiencing them. That’s Read More …

English 344 (Writing for Publication/Public Writing) Introduces Students to Modern-Day Journalism

The English department at the University of Michigan is one of the best of its kind. It offers a wide array of classes exploring different genres and periods of literature as well as specialty classes focusing on topics ranging from social issues to nature conservation. On top of its broad course listings, the department also Read More …