Meet this week’s Campus Celebrity, Matthew Whiman! As an English Major, Mobroc Musician and Editor for The College Voice, Matt doesn’t waste a second here at Connecticut College. This week we sat down with Matt to hear all about his awesome experiences at Conn as well as his post-grad senior plans.
Class Year: 2015
Hometown: Lowell, Massachusetts
Major: English with a concentration in Creative Writing
Minor: Music
You’re currently the arts and entertainment editor for The College Voice. What has that experience been like for you?
I didn’t work for the newspaper until this year. I had written a few articles for the paper intermittently but had never been actively involved. I was originally nominated to become an interim editor when the arts and entertainment editor went abroad. When that editor ended up transferring, I was offered the position permanently. I’m typically a fiction writer, so it has been a really great experience learning about editing and and gaining perspective on this entirely different approach to writing from what I’m used to.
It seems like writing is a pretty big part of your life here at Conn. Can you tell me about your work as an English Major?
Absolutely. I’m an English major with a specific concentration in creative writing. I’m currently working on short fiction but have done poetry as well. I’m not quite as good at poetry, but I enjoy and appreciate it! I’m currently doing my senior thesis as a collection of short stories about Jewish identity and faith in the face of modernity. It’s been a challenging process but my advisor Blanche Boyd and Jessica Soffer have both been very helpful.
Was your CELS internship connected to these interests?
In a way. I was a public relations intern at The Museum of Fine Art in Boston. Again, it was a lot of writing but a very different mode from what I was used to. It was very fun, and I got to be behind the scenes at a lot of exhibits and meet a lot of living artists and work with them. I love Boston, so it was definitely an awesome experience.
I hear you’re also very involved with Mobroc on campus as well as the music department. Can you tell me a bit about that?
Yes! I’m a music minor, and I play the upright bass. I’m currently in the orchestra and new music ensemble but have played in the jazz ensemble in the past as well. As for Mobroc, I have been in many bands on campus. I was in canopee last semester as a bass guitarist which was a lot of cool folk and rock music. I am currently in the sweatpant boners, another music group on campus. Our band has musicians from every class year and it has been a lot of fun playing with different musicians than I normally do. It’s also really nice to receive such positive feedback from campus and find people enjoying our music. We’ve also been talking about possibly finding a venue on another campus or in Boston which is really exciting for us.
What’s been your favorite class here at Conn?
I would have to pick two. From an English perspective I took a class on Alice Munroe and the short story. It was with Professor Julie Rivkin who is a wonderful professor. It was great from the perspective of a writer because it’s really great fiction and also from an analytical perspective as well. My second would have to be orchestra. I feel like I have grown so much as a musician. Mark Seto is a fantastic conductor and I love working with him.
What are you hoping to do after graduation?
I would like to get a job similar to my internship doing public relations in the field of non-profits in the arts.
As a senior, is there anything you haven’t checked off your Connecticut College bucket list yet?
I’ve never pulled an all nighter. I’ve stayed up late, but I’ve never actually stayed up an entire night. I’ll probably end up doing one for my senior thesis though!
How do you feel about being Campus Celebrity?
I’m flattered and unworthy.