Special Collections

MI Diaries typically shares a few stories each week that represent the range of things we’re hearing from diarists that week. But when an event happens that impacts a lot of people, or we hear a lot of stories about a single topic, we sometimes make a special collection about that topic.

Below are the collections we have created to date. 

On February 13, 2023, there was an act of mass violence at Michigan State University. This collection includes personal accounts about the February 13 violence and its aftermath as it was experienced by the Michigan State University community and others who felt connected to it. The audio recordings and transcriptions may be disturbing and upsetting for some people. If you are grieving or in distress, there are many ways to seek support, including talking with friends, family, and colleagues. There are also counseling and psychiatric services available to the MSU community, Michigan’s Keeping Michigan Healthy initiative, and the national crisis counseling helpline. To learn more about contributing to this collection, read about how we’ve been Recalling Feb 13 with MI Diaries.

NOTE: This collection was previously named the “Spartan Strong” collection. Although this name was and is still associated with the tragic events of February 13, it can be interpreted to mean that there is only one acceptable way to respond, i.e., to be ”strong”. In recognition that there are many paths to healing, we have changed the name of this collection.  

A collection of stories regarding the violence experienced at Oxford High School in Michigan on November 30, 2021. Some of our kid, teen, and adult diarists share their experiences of and their responses to this event. The audio recordings and transcriptions may be disturbing and upsetting for some people. If you are grieving or in distress, there are many ways to seek support, including talking with friends, family, and colleagues. You may wish to learn about how the All for Oxford Resilience Center can help. There are also Michigan’s Keeping Michigan Healthy initiative, and the national crisis counseling helpline. 

This is a collection of stories regarding the June 2022 US Supreme Court decision (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization) to overturn the ruling made in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case. The decision prompted many diarists to share their opinions. 

In April 2022, the MI Diaries project collaborated with Inquiry Arts to create a “listening garden” at the MSU Science Festival. Members of the public relaxed outside in chairs and hammocks, away from the main festival activities. While there, they listened to excerpts from audio diaries recorded April 2020 – January 2022. The stories ranged from sad to funny to hopeful, and they include reflections on the Covid-19 pandemic, the violence at Oxford High School, Black Lives Matter protests, carving pumpkins, and the joy of crossing the Mackinac Island bridge.