New Student Org Writes Their Way Onto Campus

John Falenschek | jfalensc@uwsuper.edu

The Creative Writing Collaboration, a new student led organization at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, held its first formal meeting on Feb. 16, 2024, at 1 p.m. online via Team Meetings. The club had previously sent out a mass emailing to students pursuing degrees through the Department of Writing, Language and Literature about the formation of the club and as an invite to its first meeting.

From the club’s constitution the mission statement reads: “Our mission is to provide distance learning and traditional students with an inclusive and safe environment that fosters an across-campus supportive community which encourages educational, personal development, and work-share opportunities that highlight all genres within the writing fields.”

The Creative Writers Collaboration is open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni of UWS. The club meets twice a month, via Team Meetings, with a live talk given by an invited guest at one of those meetings each month. All meetings will have a focus subject which will change monthly.

At the February meetings, the topic was Artificial Intelligence and its impact and use in creative writing. Emails with meeting information will continue to be sent out, but to a broader audiences.

There is information about the club on the UWS website JacketHub under ‘Organizations.’ The club can also be reached at creativewcollab@outlook.com.

The CWC was the brainchild of its President, Daniel Dow, a senior at UWS. Dow, an online student, has a passion for building a community within UWS for writers from any discipline.

It was this passion that led him to start the club with the initial help and input of Professor Megan Muthupandiyan. When asked what would define the club as a success, Dow voiced that it is already there, also that engaged conversations at meetings would be the surest sign of success.

Muthupandiyan feels that the first meeting was a success, that it had fantastic content, was energetic, and was sensitive to the attendees’ needs. As the Academic Advisor for CWC, Muthupandiyan sees her role as one of a facilitator and is looking forward to the growth of the club.