Published: May 16, 2023

The Women and Gender Studies Creative Activism award recognizes outstanding undergraduate creative works that raise awareness around issues of equity, such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender identity. It is designed to help foster an inclusive and welcoming campus climate for students of all backgrounds and those historically underrepresented at the university. Students from across campus are invited to submit creative works for consideration by a committee of faculty, staff, and students from our department.

The Dagger by Delaney Hartmann

Artist's Statement:

Delaney wrote the short story “The Dagger” as an allegory about how matrilineal suffering is passed down through generations between mothers and daughters. She was influenced by the feminist horror genre while writing this piece, specifically the works of Shirley Jackson, Margaret Atwood, and Julia Armfield. She also wrote this story in acknowledgement of the strength that her sister, mother and grandmothers embody each day.

Delaney graduated in 2024 with degrees in Women and Gender Studies and Political science. She is a recipient of the Outstanding Colorado Student Award, the Women and Gender Studies Creative Activism Award, the Andermarch Cicogna Award, and a Truman Scholarship finalist for CU Boulder.  

Congratulations Delaney!