Bridges: The First-Person Writing Project
PROJECT OVERVIEW
|
WHO |
The first-person writing project is intended to give selected students an opportunity to reflect on their unique 1L experiences with depth and nuance—and share those insights with the wider Law School community and prospective students. |
| WHAT | Supported by the Office of the Dean of Students and the Communications Office, students will take part in an intimate roundtable series with like-minded peers where they will be invited to share their stories, develop a creative writing skill set, and produce bylined pieces that will be posted on the Law School website. The first-person narratives will run about 800-1,000 words and will be workshopped with peers and edited by the Communications Office. |
| WHEN |
Writing and editing will take place over Autumn Quarter, with a goal of producing pieces over Winter and Spring Quarters. |
| WHERE | Stories will run on the Law School’s Diversity and Inclusion website with each student’s permission. |
| WHY |
This project recognizes that the diverse and multifaceted experiences of the Law School community are not easily reducible to broad generalities or high-level observations, and it is an attempt to encourage a more empathetic and enlightened campus community for current and incoming students. |
APPLICATION PROCESS & ELIGIBILITY
We are seeking writers that are diverse and looking to share their stories with the Law School community. All stories, voices and perspectives are welcomed and encouraged. For this inaugural cohort, we will select participants that meet and adhere to the following guidelines:
- Must be current 2L or 3L
- Must bring unique stories to share with respect to their law school journey.
- Must be willing to share final pieces on the Law School’s website or via another mutually agreed-upon channel.
- Must abide by the Pledge of Professionalism when participating in all activities, including drafting and editing stories.
Applicants will be reviewed by the Dean of Students Office, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Director of Content and Project Ambassador.
TENTATIVE PROGRAM CYCLE
| Application Window Opens | January |
| Zoom Information Session* | January |
| Application Window Closes | January |
| Application Decisions & Notifications | January |
| Kickoff with Project Ambassador | February |
| Writing and Consultation Period | February-May |
| Publish Date | TBD |
| Story Sharing Celebration | June |
PROJECT COLLABORATORS
Travis Gidado - Project Ambassador
Travis Gidado is the Project Ambassador of Bridges and a current 3L at the Law School. An avid writer and researcher, Travis has published pieces for a variety of outlets ranging from literary magazines and online blogs to think tank publications. His interest in starting Bridges was driven by an experience he had while taking Criminal Law, and he looks forward to building an inclusive and empathetic space for reflecting on the first-year experience.
Becky Beaupre Gillespie - Director of Content (Office of Communications)
José Luis Rodríguez - Sr. Associate Director of Student Affairs & Diversity + Inclusion (Dean of Students Office)
CONTACT US
For questions regarding program eligibility, please email jlrodriguez@uchicago.edu.
TO APPLY
To apply, please complete the Bridges: First-Person Writing Application Form.
Deadline: Sunday, January 23, 2022.