

Thurs. Nov. 2, 11:00am-12:00noon: The Influence of Black History and Culture on Contemporary Spoken Word Poetry
Host: Prof. Andrea Thompson
Location: meet on the MN fifth floor terrace (straight down the hall from the elevators), time TBA.
Walking Route: Principal’s Road and the UTM Nature Trail
Join spoken word artist and poetry professor Andrea Thompson in an exploration of the influence of Black history and culture on contemporary Spoken Word - from the slave spirituals of the Old South to the coffee houses of the Harlem Renaissance to today's slam stages and rap battles.
All are welcome, whatever your major—students, faculty, and staff included. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please feel welcome to email Julia Boyd (ja.boyd@mail.utoronto.ca) and Sarah Star (sarah.star@utoronto.ca) with any questions or thoughts, or if there is anything we can do to make Prof Walks more accessible for you.
Wed. Oct. 25, 1-2pm: Literature and Social Justice
Host: Postdoc Julia Boyd
Location: meet on the MN fifth floor terrace (straight down the hall from the elevators) at 1:00pm.
Walking Route: Principal’s Road and the UTM Nature Trail
Join Postdoc Julia Boyd for a walk on the UTM nature trail to discuss Literature and Social Justice. How can literature inspire justice and societal transformation? Why does literature matter to our collective work building justice, inclusive communities—and a just world? What place should social justice have in English classrooms? Let’s investigate these questions and more as we explore how literature shapes, informs, and inspires positive social change.


Calling all students in English courses, especially first years! On October 4, join Literature Is ALIVE! and the Department of English & Drama for a FREE pizza lunch and sight-seeing walk to welcome first-year students. We'll start with pizza and a panel discussion with faculty, staff, and upper-year students sharing their tips for thriving in university, followed by a relaxing Fall nature photography walk on our beautiful campus.
All are welcome, whether you are a first-year student or an upper-year with tips to share!
Please RSVP by Tuesday September 26 for FREE pizza and a beautiful fall walk on campus with your peers!
RSVP link: https://forms.gle/7rcsceF3PHwBdz7L6
Date/Time: Wed. Oct. 4, 12:00-2:00pm
Location: MN 5th Floor Patio (straight down the hall from the elevators)
For more about Literature Is ALIVE!, including event invitations and how to get involved, follow LIA! on Instagram and join our mailing list: https://www.instagram.com/utmliteratureisalive/
Please feel welcome to contact us at lit.is.alive.utm@gmail.com if there is anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you.



The Department of English and Drama is thrilled to invite you to the upcoming Student Program Planning Interactive Exhibition (SPPIE). This one-day event is open to all students, especially those who are in their first year or those preparing to enroll in their subject POSt at the end of this semester!
At SPPIE you can navigate through different interactive stations related to discovering your personal interests and goals, exploring relevant programs and career options, and accessing specific POSt enrollment supports. You will also have plenty of opportunities to connect directly with advisors from the Office of the Registrar, Career Centre, several academic departments, and former UTM alumni to help you with program planning!
Students who participate in SPPIE are also eligible to receive a notation on their Co-Curricular Record and have a chance to win a $50 gift card for the UTM Bookstore!
Interested? Register today!
- DATE: Friday, March 10th, 2023
- TIME: 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
- LOCATION: GYM A/B · RSVP: To register, please click here.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to SPPIE’s coordinator
Tiara De Koning (tiara.dekoning@utoronto.ca).
