Established 1826 — Oldest College Newspaper West of the Alleghenies

PostSecret founder to visit MU

Randi Keefer

He's released four books, has a weekly-updated Web site and has appeared on national television.

Frank Warren, founder of PostSecret, will come to Miami University Jan. 30.

PostSecret is a community art project, in which people send Warren anonymous postcards, on which they reveal their deepest secrets, sometimes with artwork accompanying the cards.

Over the years, Warren has compiled all the postcards into books as well as added them to an online archive.

Several organizations are collaborating to bring Warren to campus.

"(It's) primarily AfterDark and the Program Board, but (we) have had donations from residence halls and other organizations," said Paige Houston, a member of AfterDark.

At the event, Houston said Warren will be reading several postcards, as well as providing background information about the project before a question-and-answer

session. Before and after the performance, there will also be a display of PostSecret art and a book sale. After the show, Warren will be available to sign books. Houston said they decided to bring Warren to campus since he's different from usual speakers, and has the potential to challenge people to think differently than they normally would. Houston also said they hoped the popularity of Warren's project would attract a large audience.

Students can obtain one ticket per person from the Shriver box office. With the ticket, students will receive a postcard on which they can write their secrets and send to the AfterDark office in 356 Shriver Center for inclusion in a gallery of postcards. Houston hopes many students, even those who are not followers of PostSecret, will submit their secrets to create a PostSecret gallery unique to Miami.

When he heard about the event, first-year Mike Paige did a little research because he was not familiar with PostSecret.

"I have a lot of stuff going on, but I would like to get a ticket and go," Paige said. "But, it just depends on how busy my schedule is."

Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter

Most students, including sophomores J.P. Luikart and Kristina Gaietto, think that the event sounds interesting.

"I didn't really know what it was until some people explained it to me, but I think that it sounds like it would be a good time," Luikart said.

Will Luikart submit a secret of his own?

"I'm not usually one to delve in to my personal life, but I probably will," Luikart said.

Sophomore Lawton Lovely said "I've had my ticket for a while now; I'm really excited to go!"