Published: Feb. 9, 2015

Literary Buffs, a new student group on campus that aims to connect undergraduates of all disciplines who share an interest in poetry, fiction, music and art, will host its first annual Literature and Arts Festival on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 3-6 p.m.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Cafe in Boulder, according to Lukas Devries, the group's event planner. The event is co-sponsored by the Laboratory for Race and Culture (the RAP Lab) and is co-hosted by the Media and Archeology Lab (MAL).

Yuri Chicovsky, a CU graduate student and artist working in film, photography, poetry and song, will lead the introduction of the festival. CU Professors, Adam Bradley, Lori Emerson and Oliver W. Gerland will guide a discussion of their work regarding the relevance of literature and art in the digital age. The Walkabout Creative Arts Journal also will have a talk and CU graduate student, Alex Corey, will give a presentation.

The newly-formed group envisions planning and organizing extracurricular events, opportunities and social activities for students outside the classroom. In January, the group held an open house for students. They were also present at the Student Involvement Fair on Feb. 4 in the UMC.

“We are more than just a book club; weĚýhave a passion for reading, writing and all humanities and want to share this with the campus and the community at large,” said Adriane Genette, the group's faculty mentor. “We organize events both on and off campus that support this mission.”

Using the “buddies program,” Literary Buffs members intend to help new students acclimate to university life by pairing them with a “seasoned” student. The group also hopes to help prepare students for life outside of academia by working with a mentor to develop career and professional networks using LinkedIn and CU alumni.

"We hope to recruit many new members this semester so that we can build a solid foundation and become a permanent fixture of the university,” Genette said. “Come be part of the conversation that is changing the landscape of the humanities, and celebrate the writers, artists, and intellectuals who inspire you to read, write, discover and create.”Ěý

Devries, who is an English major, says one of the group's goals is to be social and welcoming to all.
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“Just come by. There is hardly any requirement as long as you’re interested,” he said. "Literary Buffs helps people express themselves and get published. It exposes you to a world that’s inaccessible if you don’t know how to go about it.”

Although there are only about 15 members of Literary Buffs currently, the diverse group includes undeclared first-year students as well as senior English majors and represents many genders and multicultural backgrounds.

“As a CU graduate myself, I believe strongly in the power of a community like this to make the undergraduate experience unforgettable,” Genette said. “As a Literary Buff, students can benefit from the extensive resources of Colorado's flagship university while thriving within a small, supportive academic and social community.”

Literary Buffs meet every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. in the Education Building room 136. If you are interested in joining Literary Buffs, visitĚýor contact Adriane Genette atĚý.

Photo: Literary Buffs members sharing their work during a recent group meeting.

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