When most people visit their mailbox, they find typical bills, local advertisements or maybe a letter from the university or another organization. Few receive personalized letters anymore, and some students are starting to see these letters as a lost art.
University of Utah Campus Cursive Love Letters is a new student group that writes letters to people in need. Anyone can request a love letter to be sent to someone they know, and the letter-writing committee will respond, said Dylan Adams, a junior in music and theatre, who founded the U’s group.
Cursive Love Letters is spreading across the country, and the U has received overwhelming support. Though only a couple months old, they have already written many letters and received many requests.
The letters might include a quote, song lyrics or anything that can positively boost the receiver’s day. Adams said these are not meant to solve the person’s problems but to let them know that someone cares.
The writers are all anonymous, and they only know the information that was disclosed in the letter requests, which are filled out online. Adams believes this makes the letter writing all the more exciting.
“That’s part of the fun of it, because you really never know who wrote it,” he said. “You just get a genuine letter. Someone was kind enough to take a few minutes out of their day to write a little tiny note.”
The group is trying to reach out to everyone and get a wide range of involvement. They already have a good mix of genders, ages and majors, said Jenny Jones, a senior in international studies.
She is the international relations coordinator and aims to include international students, who could be wary to join a club because of language barriers.
Jones has hosted workshops for foreign students to teach letter writing and how the U.S. Postal Service works and said it is something anyone can take part in.
Both Jones and Adams are believers in the effect of letters, and they have seen a range of people who are just stressed out to the verge of suicide in the requests. With the thank-you notes they have received in response, they feel like they are really making a difference.
“It’s a small community, but we are able to have a large impact,” Adams said.
While the group is already connected with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, they hope to work with the Bennion Center, Counseling Center and Primary Children’s Medical Center, along with any other interested organizations.
“It creates a healthy environment. There has been research which shows that letters help with mental health,” Adams said.
He hopes to create a healthier environment at the U by putting letters that have a brief, uplifting message across campus in random spots. Also, the club will be writing and giving out letters the week before finals to as many students as they can to share positive words of encouragement.
The club was recently approved by ASUU as an official student group, so the stationary, paper, advertisements and postage costs will be aided by ASUU funds.
Adams said anyone can become involved and join the team, because it benefits the writers while also helping the receivers. He feels it is far more personalized to see writing on paper and know that someone wrote it rather than sitting on a computer and sending out a fast email.
“Just forget about yourself for a couple minutes and give yourself to someone else’s situation and give them support,” Adams said.