Exploring Memory, Protest, & Power Through Fiction
A buried history, a campus in upheaval, and a relationship under strain shape Lux et Lex, a novel in progress as of April 2025. Set at a fictional liberal arts college, the work examined how institutional memory, protest, and personal relationships collide when long-suppressed histories resurface.
The novel was presented at the Graduate Poster Exhibition during the 2025 SPARK! (Showcase of Projects, Art, Research, and Knowledge), a reimagining of Research Week that highlighted graduate research and creative work across disciplines. Developed as part of the Rutgers University–Camden Creative Writing MFA program, the work reflected the program’s emphasis on research-informed storytelling, multi-genre craft, and the development of a publishable voice. The abstract below introduces Lux et Lex by M.F.A. candidate Matilda Stolte.
Abstract: Lux et Lex
My novel Lux et Lex follows a cast of characters in Tremont, a fictional liberal arts college in Lancaster, where two bodies have been found buried beneath a historical-house-turned-fraternity. It centers around Grace, who is struggling with her newfound open relationship with her girlfriend, Quinn. Grace is a recent graduate working with the archivist in the college’s library. Her main project is archiving photos and documents from Miss Tremont, a beauty pageant held on Tremont’s campus from the 1920s to the early 1990s, where young girls in need competed for a scholarship to the college. When the bodies are found and protest erupts on campus, Grace is forced to shift her focus to the house and the controversial man who lived there.
Graduate Poster Exhibition at SPARK!
The Graduate Poster Exhibition celebrates the research and creative work of the graduate community, showcasing everything from prose and code to original research and artistic expression. As part of SPARK! (Showcase of Projects, Art, Research, and Knowledge), a reimagining of Research Week, the exhibition highlights the depth, range, and impact of graduate scholarship and invites the campus community to engage with ideas taking shape across disciplines.
Rutgers–Camden’s MFA: A Multi-Genre Journey in Creative Writing
The Rutgers University–Camden Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a 39-credit terminal degree that fosters a multi-genre approach, encouraging exploration across fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students engage in small, personalized workshops and craft classes led by distinguished, award-winning faculty, including recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and Guggenheim Fellowship. The program offers full financial support to all full-time incoming students, encompassing tuition remission and a living stipend. Situated just minutes from Philadelphia, the campus nurtures a vibrant literary community centered around the historic Writers House on Cooper Street. Additionally, students have opportunities to interact with nationally acclaimed visiting authors through the NEA-supported Writers in Camden series and can participate in international experiences across Europe, Asia, or South America.
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