The Tenth Muse Hosts Final Launch Party

Clarke’s student-led literary magazine, the Tenth Muse, hosted what was likely their final Launch Party in Terence Donaghoe Hall on Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:30. The night had an array of light snacks and refreshments for those who attended as well as a number of live readings from this year’s volume. The Launch Party was closed by former Creative Writing professor, Katherine Fischer, who submitted a prose piece titled My Clarke that contained an anthology of Clarke alumni’s views on Clarke and the future of the university.

Launch Party in TDH (Credit: Kirsten Kruser)

The night began at 5:30pm with some social mingling and light appetizers. The Dining Hall staff provided a wide variety of snacks for those in attendance to enjoy before the Launch Party began. These snacks included a cookie platter, Rice Krispie Treats, chips and salsa, a fruit platter, and more. There was also a booth hosted by former Tenth Muse staff member, Angelina Bauman, where she promoted her graphic novel series, Butterscotch and the Human Boy, available for purchase on Amazon. During this opening social mingling, attendees of the Launch Party were able to converse with one another while enjoying delicious appetizers as they grabbed their complimentary copy of Volume 16 of the Tenth Muse. People then soon began filling the theater of Terence Donaghoe Hall. Before the start of the program, the theater had a projector showing a slideshow of the history of the Tenth Muse; the slideshow was made by Clarke’s Graphic Design professor, Eric Wold. There was also music playing; the selection of songs was chosen by senior Graphic Design Major, Michael Pettke.

When six o’clock hit, English and Communication Double Major, Kirsten Kruser, took the stage as the Tenth Muse’s Editor-in-Chief and gave her opening remarks, gratitude, and welcome to everyone in attendance. She took the time to thank the magazine’s faculty advisors, Eric Wold (Graphic Design) and Steve Bellomy (English), for their endless help in putting the magazine together since she was the only student to participate in the creation of Volume 16. She also thanked Katherine Fischer for her support for the magazine and her dedication to it even after her retirement.

Kirsten then introduced those who were reading their work virtually: Alexandra Cipriani, Dana Yost, and David M. Harris. After the virtual readers shared their work, Eric Wold introduced those who would be reading in-person on TDH’s stage. The in-person readings were given by Clarke students, alumni, and faculty who submitted their work to Volume 16 as well as performances given by students in the Communication Department and Clarke’s Cast & Crew. Steve Bellomy also read a poem called “Language of Grasses” by Adam Lacroix. “I knew he would enjoy reading that particular poem for everyone, so I made sure he was the one to read it at the Launch Party,” Kruser stated. An epilogue was performed by Katherine Fischer and four contributors to a prose piece in Volume 16 titled My Clarke. My Clarke is a collaboration prose piece written by about twenty Clarke alumni where they shared their experiences at Clarke and their emotions regarding the recent discontinuation of a number of Clarke’s programs.

Steve Bellomy gave his closing statements for the Launch Party. Soon after, many people in attendance got emotional knowing that they had just experienced what was likely the last Tenth Muse Launch Party at Clarke. The Tenth Muse is advised by Clarke’s Graphic Design and English Departments, so the future of the magazine is cloudy since both programs were discontinued last semester. When asked about the possible conclusion of the magazine, Kirsten Kruser said, “It’s bittersweet knowing I helped make what is probably the very last volume of the Tenth Muse. If a seventeenth volume is made next academic year, I will happily do this again. If Volume 16 is the last, though, I sincerely hope I put the magazine to rest in a positive manner.”