Dear Curb Readers,
Stories are a powerful phenomenon. A well-told story can move us to tears or action. It can illustrate personal experience and illuminate human connection. Other people’s stories help us comprehend our own place in the world and preserve otherwise fleeting, but nonetheless impactful, instances. At their roots, stories string together seemingly random and inexplicable events and reduce our much-feared isolation. Sharing stories and learning from them strengthens communities and it strengthens us.
At the beginning of September, our team spent a full week deliberating on the topic of this magazine. Frustrations ran high, debates were heated and we could not come to a consensus. On the last day of discussion, we tackled a completely new idea — what if we talk about love? Not the boy meets girl, head-over-heels, Ryan Gosling rom-com love, but the authentic, funny, heartbreaking and inspiring ways love shapes the lives of real people here in Wisconsin. Suddenly, we were all in unanimous agreement. It was clear to us that love, in all its complex forms, is something that unites us.
Every single day, Wisconsinites show that love extends far beyond romantic borders. We have deep connections to the land, passions strong enough to ignite change and cherished traditions that span generations. As we traveled to every corner of the state, we were welcomed into homes and hearts, consistently humbled and motivated by the stories we heard.
The Curb staff is built by bright, passionate writers, creators and designers ready to charge the world and change it. We love the work we do. We love the stories we get to tell. As most of us finish out our time here at UW-Madison, I like to think of the 15th edition of Curb as our love letter — to our school, to our state and to the people in it.
Thus, we give you our own labor of love — Wisconsin: A Love Story. We can’t wait to share it with you, and we hope you enjoy.
Sincerely yours,
Bailey Nachreiner-Mackesey