by Chloë Moore ’24
Coming up at the end of this month, the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) English conference will return in person! The ACTC includes Macalester, Hamline, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, and Augsburg University. Hosted by the five colleges on a rotating basis, it’s Macalester’s turn again; this will be the first in-person rendition of the conference in a few years. Organized by professors Michael Prior and Coral Lumbley, with support from student assistants Chloë Moore, Patrick Coy-Bjork, and Sydney Ellison, the ACTC conference features student work nominated by English faculty from the five colleges.
Taking place all day on March 31st in the Campus Center, the conference will have four panels, with two sessions before and two sessions after lunch. The panels are American Literature, British Literature, World and Multicultural Literature, and Creative Writing. The inclusion of a creative writing panel is an exciting step that was first introduced the last time Macalester hosted the conference, which was organized by Professors Matt Burgess and Penelope Geng. This time around, there will once again be official space for creative writers to present their work in a conference setting.
The nomination process for student work is ongoing, with faculty continuing to submit work by students. In general, these are essays and creative works produced in a specific class that the faculty member has then recommended for the conference. We are excited to have a good number of submissions already, including several from Macalester English students!
ACTC presents a unique opportunity for professional conference experience for undergrads. It’s a great way to get your work out there, meet other undergrads who are also committed to producing awesome scholarship and creative work, and to practice presenting your work (academic or creative) in slightly more relaxing setting than some conferences. Even if you’re not a presenter, the panels are a great way to learn about the incredible work of your peers, and to learn from and be inspired by the panelists and their research. All four panels will be open to the public, so come hype up your English-y friends! There will also be a lunch that requires registration to attend.
From my own experience helping to plan this conference, I know it’s going to be a great success. It brings together the best aspects of being at a small liberal arts college: focus on undergraduates, lots of professional opportunities, and a great way to connect with other book-minded folks. We are looking forward to a diverse range of topics, points of view, and creative styles for an exciting and engaging conference!
