More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.
Alexandra Coppola '16 of Redding, who majors in English, gave an oral presentation at the event. Her presentation was titled "Creative Writing Abroad: 'Words To Live By.'"
"Creative writing is not only a catharsis but also a means to connect to the world and those who inhabit it," said Coppola. "It is a mode of exploration through which both writer and reader are given the opportunity to redefine what they think they know about themselves and how they function in an ever-evolving society. I had the pleasure of venturing to Florence, Italy for Dr. Torockio's Creative Writing Abroad course and it was a positively transformative experience. Being surrounded by such rich and colorful history provided great inspiration for aspiring writers. For five weeks we were immersed in the culture of Italy and filled our time church hopping, art viewing, and wine tasting in Tuscany. Throughout our blissful travels we were strongly encouraged to document our experiences and write of our revelations, and that is what my story is about. My work, "Words to Live By," is a short story about an American girl who travels to Florence only to find that she brings herself with her wherever she goes. In a moment of quiet clarity the protagonist is able to connect to nature and step out of the limiting confines of what she believed about herself, which allows her to access the truth and power of who she truly is."
Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."
During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.
Founded in 1889, Eastern Connecticut State University is the state's public liberal arts university and one of only 29 such designated institutions in North America. Eastern is home to 5,300 students who come from 158 of Connecticut's 169 townships, from 20 states throughout the country, and from 63 foreign countries. As a predominantly residential campus, Eastern has approximately 60 percent of undergraduate students living on its beautiful campus. With more than 150 buildings and 2.3 million square feet of space, Eastern's physical plant is admired by students and visitors alike; in January 2016, a new Fine Arts Center opened, further advancing Eastern's liberal arts mission.
The university offers 38 undergraduate majors, 55 minors, and seven master's degree programs. An excellent student/teacher ratio (15.5:1) and small class sizes (average class size is 23.3) allow students to receive exceptional personal attention.