Student Organizations, on-campus opportunities, and the English Department
by Evan Randle
I remember two falls ago, as an English major first exploring the vast opportunities available at UW-Madison, feeling overwhelmed by how many student organizations appealed to my interests. I have come to attend events in at least forty by now, and consistently attended many organizations closely affiliated with our English department.
The act of exploration was a wonderful experience, though guidance is certainly helpful. It is my hope that, through this piece, I can help future English majors learn more about the student orgs that may become a staple of their personal circle.
The Madison Undergraduate Society for English (MUSE), as its name suggests, is helpful for all English majors. Its events include the practical — an overview of the major, resume workshops — as well as the recreational, like favorite book slideshows or conversations with professors. It’s a great way to learn more about the major and meet people across subdivisions!
Focusing more on the Creative Writing track (which I personally belong to), the Madison Review is the Creative Writing Department’s own journal dedicated to fiction and poetry. As a member of the Review, you take time discussing submissions with your peers and ultimately playing a part in deciding what each semester’s magazine will contain.
Another journal on campus is the Madison Journal of Literary Criticism (MJLC), a social-justice oriented and abolitionist journal that hosts weekly study sessions centered around its mission. The MJLC has a storied history and was revived a few years ago by English majors!
But what if you’re looking to improve your writing itself? The Fiction Writers’ Association (FWA) is largely composed of English majors who seek to improve their craft. Meetings include workshops for stories and a menagerie of fun-yet-helpful exercises.
