Sophia Berg, Digital Media Intern, English Department
Founded based on the research of former President Nannerl Keohane’s Women’s Initiative report, The Muse is a prominent force for female literary empowerment at Duke University. The report, which detailed the downward trends of female confidence in Duke women’s undergraduate circles, led two students to establish The Muse as a safe space for female-identifying students to express themselves through writing. In the years since its establishment, The Muse has become a prominent force on campus for student-led writing and publication.
“Unleash the Muse that lives within!”
Featured at the top of their website, the headline beneath projects their primary mission, “to facilitate an improved culture of women’s and overall gender informed empowerment on Duke’s campus.” The Muse aims to draw students into the art of writing, from prose to poetry to even research articles, all focused on the themes of “self-empowerment, journalism, art, poetry, photography, politics, and more.” In the past, The Muse has endeavored to tackle all of these points, from their Fall 2023 volume, “I Am My Own Muse!” about self-reclamation, to their Spring 2024 volume, “Our Odyssey,” about the journey of a woman through her life. Partnered with the Duke University Women’s Center, the volumes published by The Muse cater to the lives of the everyday woman, their struggles and joys, all artistically expressed by female-identifying Duke students.
“Joining The Muse has been one of the best decisions I’ve made as a student,” says magazine co-president Sera Balkir. “Since joining my freshman year, The Muse has consistently instilled a sense of belonging and community throughout my college experience. I have met some of the most creative, talented people through the club. The Muse has also given me inspiring mentors, friendships, and leadership experiences to learn from.”
Co-president Alice Haystead agrees, remarking, “I have found a community in The Muse unlike anywhere else on campus. It is a space where students can harness skills they don’t get to use in the classroom. I am consistently impressed with the motivation, talent, and creativity of our writers – no two pieces are the same.”
And the students feel the same. Writing for The Muse over the past two years of her undergraduate career, Jasmine comments, “I joined The Muse my freshman year. It has been an amazing creative outlet. I’ve really enjoyed brainstorming theme ideas and writing for volumes.” Jasmine, who specializes in constructing poetry for The Muse’s publications, is one of the members of the writing team. Students working for The Muse can be writers, editors, or designers who assemble the final volumes. And for most students, this is their first time working on a comprehensive publication team, allowing them to gain critical real-world experience in a field many humanities students go on to pursue.
Once students gain this crucial writing experience, it undoubtedly improves their knowledge not only of the writing process, but of the literary styles they are emulating and rhetorical varieties they are constructing. Members of The Muse are able to write in whatever style they choose, whether presenting academic research, waxing poetry, or composing short stories. In all writing, however, members' ties to the study of English are clear, which is the very reason why so many English students are writers for The Muse.
One such individual, Lily Egol, says, “Writing for The Muse, I get to express myself, explore meaningful themes, and receive thoughtful feedback that helps me grow as a writer. I’ve been able to write a whole range of pieces, from a poem about women in Shakespeare, to a queer historical short story to an essay about pianist Yuja Wang, and an original fairy tale. In each volume I’m so inspired by everyone’s writing and by the gorgeous designs.” Lily’s independent research on Shakespearean women began as a piece for The Muse, which she has since adapted into a full blown paper, entitled, “Galls, Grace, & Grief.” Lily also speaks to the cultural aspect of The Muse, which often becomes a safe space for female-identifying students to fully express themselves in writing and art: “Also, The Muse isn’t only a creative outlet, but also a supportive community! It has been great getting to know other members and forming lasting mentorships and friendships with them.”
Senior Victoria Ely agrees, commenting, “I’ve been writing for The Muse for four years, and I love how it allows me to explore the more artistic, vulnerable side of myself that can often be stifled with a sole focus on your classes and career.” A humanities student, Victoria finds her work with The Muse to be both contributive to her studies and a welcome break from the constancy of her academic workload. The Muse encourages students to foster this duality, to simultaneously increase their skills in composition and literature, and a place of leisure away from the classroom. Victoria also feels that the variety of topics covered by The Muse allows her to express a plurality in her writing. While in classwork students are often restricted to course content and topics, at The Muse, students are free to pursue whatever mode and story they like, with each volume’s overarching theme only contributing to the creative process that can span all sorts of interpretations.
The Muse publishes monthly volumes focusing on various areas of women’s experiences – from their latest volume on gratitude to an issue on female role models, from “Dear Reader” to “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.” And while many of The Muse staffers are English students, the publication welcomes students from any discipline who want to learn more about humanistic studies and writing. At their biweekly meetings, students are encouraged to brainstorm volume themes together, with all members included equally in the process. The magazine’s monthly social events – that are often literature-themed as well, such as their recent scrapbooking workshop – only add to the camaraderie the students have grown to know and love with The Muse.
Author’s Note: The Muse urges prospective English majors to consider joining the next application cycle to gain professional composition experience, an engaging extracurricular, and connections to other Duke University English majors.