If you were in the Humanities courtyard on Aug. 28, you may have heard the English department’s Soapbox: Radical Readings event. A Week of Welcome initiative, students and faculty are invited to read aloud a radical literary passage of their choice, energizing themselves for the start of a great school year.

These readings included writings from Mary Shelly to James Baldwin to a recent New York Times editorial, ranging throughout time and genre. Creative writing is also encouraged, providing a platform for many majoring in the field to showcase their unpublished work in a unique way. The speaker chooses what they would like to read beforehand. There are typically 15-20 five minute time slots throughout the event. Though the English department starts recruiting orators days in advance, inspired, spontaneous speakers are common as well. Time is blocked out specifically for this occasion! 

Along with the performances, a table of refreshments stood to the side of the soapbox. In addition to cookies and cold drinks, the table contained informative literature on things related to the department and student resources on campus, such as the Innovation in Learning Center and the Stokes Center for Creative Writing. Because it is so close to the 2024 presidential election, civic literature was also provided to encourage students to register to vote. 

Dr. Laura Vrana, a main organizer, boasts that the event is, “Designed to showcase that English offers something for everyone and is a welcoming space for the whole campus community,” and hopes for it to “Encourage any interested students to stop, ask questions about English, and partake in fun departmental swag and refreshments.”

This particular Soapbox event took place at the same time as the Independent Music Collective’s (IMC) book fair. The IMC boasts a wide selection of used books on a variety of topics, and music in many different formats are sprawled for browsing enjoyment. These occur on the last Wednesday of every month, and the two events are frequently planned to happen simultaneously. These two events, along with the passing of classes, turns the Humanities courtyard into a lively hub of community. 

Another Soapbox event is likely to happen in the beginning weeks of the Spring 2025 semester. 

The English Department holds countless events throughout the year, and they can be found online via the South Alabama website and their Instagram (@usaenglishdepartment), as well as through posters around campus. There is also a weekly newsletter available through Substack in order to ensure you stay up to date.