Taylor Storlien-
One of the newer clubs here on campus that has piqued the interest of several is the Dead Poets Society. It came about in the fall of 2021 after Senior Alexandra Combs and Junior Elise Gotthardt watched the film Dead Poets Society, starring Robin Williams. After that, “… the idea of starting a club modeled after the one in the movie was born,” co-founder Combs said. It is a newer organization, and this is one of the first years that they have made a greater effort to spread publicity and gain new members. They recently held a movie night in Wallenberg viewing Dead Poets Society, which turned out to be a great success.
Typically, they meet in the Arboretum, weather permitting, or Confer 230 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays. However, sometimes the time and day change based on schedule availability as they try to accommodate other members’ commitments. The Dead Poets Society is open to anyone, including professors, especially if there is a special event like a workshop. “Dead Poets Society is open to anyone who loves poetry! Whether you’re an aspiring poet hoping to share, a poet[ry] lover who comes hoping to hear some lines that sing to the stars, to a person who wants to explore poetry even more on campus. Dead Poets Society is open to all!” member and Junior Houston McLaury said.
Meetings are “freeform” and they do not have a set way of conducting meetings. “Rather we want our members to take control of the meeting, and the leadership to act more as a mediator or discussion leader. The loose structure we follow is someone brings a poem either they wrote or found by a different author, reads it aloud, and the group discusses the meaning, language, and overall significance,” Combs said. The vibe of each meeting differs depending on the poems that are brought forth. “The environment is open for any and all to bring forth a poem about cheeseburgers, one of my personal favorites, to serious poems that can get at social or personal issues. We do like to have content warnings for some of these poems as well so that anyone who does not want to listen to the subjects can take a quick break from the group, [then] come back,” McLaury said. They discuss the poems, the central meanings, and other parts that may stick out to other members.
Their advisor this fall is Professor Philip Bryant. “Professor Bryant is enthusiastic about attending events and getting us involved with his visiting poets, Bards in the Arb, and other interesting events/discussions,” Combs said.
As a newer organization, they continue to grow their member base. “If you’re looking to join the Dead Poets Society, or even show a slight interest in the artistry of poetry, I would say come in! Most of the time we like to catch up and talk about any topic that falls into our laps,” McLaury said. Many of the members have been greatly touched by their membership in the Dead Poets Society.
Member and Senior Elliot Steeves has been especially touched by his involvement in the Dead Poets Society: “I have grown to love my own work even more, and the energy I get from being with other like-minded people is incomparable. I and the rest of the E-board are very close-knit, and we feed off of each other for coordination and inspiration. I also feel more enthused about reading in general,” Steeves said.
Combs, who is in her last semester at Gustavus this fall, has also been impacted by The Dead Poets Society and its members. “I will miss the people in DPS the most. The reason this org[anization] has been successful is the dedication of our E-Board and members. Every meeting is an opportunity to come together as a community of people with a common interest and learn from each other. Through DPS, I have felt more connected to the Gustavus community, and I will miss the friends I made through this organization,” Combs said.
McLaury references the long tradition of humans bonding over art and oral history: “It’s a great time to de-stress and talk and simply be with your peers as you enjoy the ancient tradition of poetry reading. Like our ancestors gathering around a fire, we yearn to tell stories, to be understood, and to be creative! So join the fire, and read and listen and laugh if you decide to come!” McLaury said.
Recounting some of their biggest moments, Steeves looks back fondly on the first meeting: “The first meeting in 2021 was special. It was a beautiful evening, in the middle of fall, and a lot of us found our people there,” Steeves said.
As they continue on, the biggest hope is that the club will continue to grow after its first and original members graduate and leave Gustavus. “My hope is that we can fill in the shoes of the current executive board – so if you want leadership in this field, join! It seems that the group will continue for the foreseeable future. Turnout and enthusiasm have been massive this year, about triple what it was for the past few years we were doing it. We hope to continue growing,” Steeves said. Combs has great hope that it will continue after she leaves Gustavus, “I’m so proud to have DPS as part of my legacy here,” Combs said.