Museum Studies Students Curate Exhibition on 170 Years of MSU Traditions

Museum Studies Students Curate Exhibition on 170 Years of MSU Traditions

An upcoming exhibition at the MSU Museum, developed by students in Michigan State University’s Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies program, offers a dynamic exploration of MSU student life. Through objects, stories, and creative interpretation, the exhibition explores 170 years of student traditions and how they have connected Spartans across generations.

What If We Kissed in the Shadows of Beaumont Tower?: Connecting Generations Through MSU Student Traditions will be on view April 25-July 31, 2026, in the MSU Museum’s newly opened Forest Akers Trust Student Exhibition Lab. An opening reception is planned for Friday, April 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

A woman examines a vintage green Spartan helmet alongside a dated basketball with writing. The setting is a well-lit storage shelf, evoking nostalgia.
Women engage in a collaborative art project in a workshop. One wears a lab coat, examining materials on a table scattered with supplies, evoking creativity.
Three people in a room with clothing displays; one squats smiling while adjusting a red garment, another holds papers, and a jacket is in the background.
Some objects in the What If We Kissed in the Shadows of Beaumont Tower?: Connecting Generations Through MSU Student Traditions exhibition include a decades-old Sparty head and 1951 basketball commemorating the first Big Ten contest against the University of Michigan (top left photo by Chase Stanton), a replica of “The Rock” built by Museum Studies students (top right photo by Teresa Goforth), and a vintage Spartan Marching Band jacket (bottom photo by Chase Stanton).

Developed by students in the Curatorial Practices (MUSM 488/888) course taught by Suzanne Fischer, Assistant Professor of Museum Studies, the exhibition traces the evolution of student traditions, from early 20th-century class rivalries to contemporary campus rituals, highlighting how shared experiences continue to shape Spartan identity. As part of this collaborative, project-based course, students worked directly with the MSU Museum’s collections, conducting research and transforming historical materials into a public-facing exhibition.

“The MSU Museum exists as a collaboratory where disciplines collide and curiosity drives discovery,” said Devon Akmon, Director of the MSU Museum. “This exhibition is a testament to what becomes possible when students are given the space, resources, and mentorship to learn by doing. By working directly with our collections and bringing their own perspectives to bear, these students didn’t just study museum practice — they practiced it, producing something meaningful for our campus community and beyond.”

“By working directly with our collections and bringing their own perspectives to bear, these students didn’t just study museum practice — they practiced it, producing something meaningful for our campus community and beyond.”

Devon Akmon, Director of the MSU Museum

The exhibition marks the third collaboration between the Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies program and the MSU Museum, and the first exhibition in the Forest Akers Trust Student Exhibition Lab, a purpose-built space dedicated to hands-on, student-driven learning.

The lab was created as part of the MSU Museum’s recent 18-month renovation, made possible by a transformative multimillion-dollar gift from the Forest Akers Trust. This state-of-the-art space has elevated the student experience, offering new ways for students to interact with the museum’s collections, examine MSU’s past and future, and bring free public exhibits to life.

Three people examine historical documents on a table in a well-lit room. They appear focused and engaged, wearing casual and professional attire.
Suzanne Fischer (left), Assistant Professor of Museum Studies, teaching the Curatorial Practices course that produced the What If We Kissed in the Shadows of Beaumont Tower?: Connecting Generations Through MSU Student Traditions exhibition. (Photo by Chase Stanton)

The space is designed to prioritize teaching, learning, and research. It provides students with opportunities to develop exhibitions that bridge classroom learning with professional museum practice.

“It’s an investment in putting students first,” Fischer said. “Having spaces like this allows students to imagine, experiment, and create exhibitions that connect past and present in meaningful ways.”

Visitors to What If We Kissed in the Shadows of Beaumont Tower?: Connecting Generations Through MSU Student Traditions are encouraged to engage with the exhibition and reflect on how traditions evolve while continuing to foster connection, identity, and shared experience within the Spartan community. Admission to the MSU Museum is free and open to all.

Adapted from an article original published by the MSU Museum


Categories: Student / Student