Events – The University of Montana's Oval Literary Magazine

The Oval: Volume XIX Launch Party

ovaleditor — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:11:06 +0000

Join us for the launch of this year’s edition of The Oval! On the cusp of its third decade, this edition experiences both anger and hope. Each piece confronts life’s hardships head-on. Let yourself feel challenged by the complexities of what it means to be alive today, both as students and human beings. The Oval XIX is political, emotional, and most importantly, authentic.

We are so excited to host a reading, signing, and sale of copies of The Oval XIX and hope you will join us on May 4th, 2026, from 6pm to 8pm in The Mansfield Library Commons to celebrate their hard work!

“Meeting a Wizard” By A.C. Moore

Oval Staff — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:55:52 +0000

I was twelve years old before I could read. As I looked at words, they would move.
Sometimes they would run together, blurring into new, different words. Other times, the letters
would change shape, becoming characters totally foreign to the English alphabet. The longer I
looked at the words, the harder it would get to interpret them. I muddled my way through
elementary school, embarrassed and mortified by my inability to do what my peers could
accomplish without a thought. Reading was easy, I was told by teachers. The issue was simply
that I was stupid.

Read A.C.’s full piece here.

“Hooks, Bait, Fish” By Aaron Gerhardt

Oval Staff — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:46:24 +0000

Floss squinted, trying in vain to avoid tripping on obstacles she couldn’t see. The wind
rattled her innards and scoured her face, though she kept moving, hands numb and frozen to her
revolver. A careless step into a gopher hole had left her ankle sprained and burning, but she
couldn’t afford to stop. No matter what.

Read Aaron’s full piece here.

2021 Staff Issue

Oval Staff — Thu, 20 May 2021 17:22:41 +0000

Each year the staff of The Oval produces their own issue at the end of the semester that is full of imaginative fiction, evocative nonfiction, and inspiring poetry.

Read the most recent staff issue (2021) here!

Keetje Kuipers Reading

Oval Staff — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 18:02:29 +0000

On Monday, April 29th, The Oval presents a reading from Keetje Kuipers in the Theta Rho Room in the Mansfield Library at 6 pm!

Kuipers is a writer, editor, and author of All Its Charms, The Keys to the Jail, and Beautiful in the Mouth. Her poems, essays, and short stories have appeared in over a hundred journals and magazines, including the New York Times Magazine.

See her website for more information: https://keetjekuipers.com/

The Oval Vol. XII

Oval Staff — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 02:06:39 +0000

Our annual issue of the Oval is finally here! We worked hard all year to bring you this magazine, and we’re excited to share with you stories, poems, and art from 26 student contributors. This year, our contributors take us from the dirt beneath our feet to the stars above, offer us diverse cultural perspectives, and explore the beauty and brutality of being human.

Pick up your copy today in the UC at our table on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and get a free back issue!

The Oval Volume XII Launch

Oval Staff — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 01:37:08 +0000

Join us next Monday, April 15th, at 6:00 pm in the Mansfield Library (Main Floor Learning Commons) for the launch of our new issue! Pick up your copy and listen to our student contributor readings.

OVAL X Staff Edition

Oval Staff — Tue, 16 May 2017 19:25:32 +0000

Oval Staff Issue 2017

From the hard-working staff of the OVAL X come their own words & works. We are sad to lose a number of these folks to graduation, but know they’ll do great things in the future. Cheers!

The Oval Cleans Up the Clark Fork

Oval Staff — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 18:13:44 +0000

Last Saturday (Earth Day) a group of dedicated students joined Oval Captain Robert Stubblefield for some volunteer hours. Way to go Ovalites! The earth thanks you . . .

Callan Wink Slays

Oval Staff — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:54:01 +0000

A BIG “Thank You” to Callan Wink for his spectacular reading and Q&A. Students were left invigorated by his fiction and commentary about a writer’s life. Additionally, The Oval is grateful to Chris Dombrowski for guiding Callan into this monster. Thanks fellas!