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Alumnus Cecil Baldwin returns to campus

Almunus Cecil Baldwin shares his story with students at Michel Student
Center Ballroom Thursday night. Photo by William Craine.

Last night, voice actor and Bradley alumnus Cecil Baldwin gave a talk titled “LGBT in The Arts: The Cecil Baldwin Story” in Michel Student Center Ballroom.

In his speech, Baldwin discussed learning to be candid and honest with audiences through his work with The Neo-Futurists, an experiential theater in Chicago.

“I’m always surprised and a little bit shocked that the act of being an out actor or an out performer is still considered unique to some people,” Baldwin said. “I kind of feel like I’m here to represent the scruffy underdog. I’ve not necessarily made it, but I’m making it. I’m making the path by walking it.”

Baldwin is best known for voicing the main character in a popular podcast, Welcome to Night Vale. He also identifies as an HIV positive, openly gay person in the arts.

Common Ground, Bradley’s LGBTQ+ straight alliance, co-hosted the event with Bradley’s theater department.

Junior secondary history and social studies education major and Common Ground president Melissa Dillon said a current member reached out to her about inviting Baldwin, who’s also a Common Ground alumnus.

She then contacted Baldwin, who happened to be touring at the time, “he just kind of slid us right in with the rest of his tour,” said Dillon.

After Baldwin spoke about his story, Common Ground members took questions from the live audience and from Twitter. Attendees asked about topics including coming out, being HIV positive and working for a podcast.

“As an out gay woman on campus, it’s really exciting to see events that are geared towards the LGBT community,” senior English major Gabrielle Hogan said. “It’s especially cool to see such a successful LGBT performer in the creative industry that I want to go into who is also a Bradley alum because it really shows that I have a lot of opportunities.”

Baldwin grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and currently lives in New York City. While at Bradley, he was involved in the theater department and with the Peoria LGBTQ+ community.

“I’m so thankful to get to come back as an [alumnus] and just get to talk to people,” Baldwin said. “Not only speak, but to listen and to hear the stories and the experiences of the students at Bradley University now. It’s really exciting.”

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