Student -Run Publications Open Venues for Expression

Author: Caroline Stauffer

Middlebury College is bursting with interesting publications that represent the many voices of the College community. Each of these fulfills a specific purpose: To provide news, arts, analyses, humor or a forum to express opinion. Four of these publications are: Epilogue, the College's journal of ideas; Skin Deep Magazine, which explores issues of identity; Writing on the Wall, a bi-yearly publication of creative writing and student art work; Otter Creek Journal, the College's environmental journal; and Artemis, a feminist magazine.

Opinions Abound in
Epilogue

Epilogue is not a literary magazine, but rather a journal of opinion. It solicits articles about political, cultural and public interest issues, according to Edith Honan '03, editor-in-chief. The only criterion is that submissions must concern topics other than issues specific to Middlebury College. Articles, features, creative writing and art submissions are also welcomed at Epilogue.
The first issue, printed in October, included an interview with playwright Edward Albee and an essay on "Reviving the Art of History" by Sam Rodriguez '04. Epilogue also featured several reviews and selections of creative writing and a photo essay entitled "Images of Protest" by Vinay Jawahar '03. Additional essays included topics such as the extension of renewable energy, the Brazilian presidential election, anti-Americanism in East Africa and the debate regarding an official language for the United States.
There are currently four editors of Epilogue. They are Jawahar, who serves as national editor; Ivaylo Petev '03, international editor; Dimiter Kenarov '03, culture editor and Honan. Fifteen members of the College community were published in the first edition. Work by faculty, staff, alumni and students in Middlebury's graduate degree programs is also published, but submissions are largely from current Middlebury students.
Epilogue was created two years ago with support from the Student Government Association. However, it was not published last year because many of its core contributors were off-campus. Meetings for the magazine are held bi-monthly.

Going Beneath the Surfac: Skin Deep Magazine

Skin Deep Magazine is primarily a literary magazine, but works of art are also welcomed. Over time, Skin Deep has evolved from its original focus on issues of racial diversity to include broader topics concerning diversity and identity, such as race, religion, class, gender and sexuality.
"The members of Skin Deep wish to provide Middlebury College students, faculty and alumni with a safe forum in which to voice their concerns about issues of identity and diversity," Victoria Baptiste '04, editor-in-chief, said. "We do so in the hope that the experiences related within the pages of Skin Deep will engender discussions that transcend the format, cultivate an atmosphere of sharing and bring a newfound sense of awareness to the College community."
Skin Deep was first published in 1993 and again two years later. In 1999, the scope of the magazine was broadened to include all aspects of diversity and identity. After another three-year hiatus, Skin Deep was again published last spring and, for the first time, became an official student organization.
Skin Deep strives to publish selected literary and artistic work from students at the end of each semester. It is made up of five to 10 members who attend editorial board meetings. Meetings will be held weekly once a substantial amount of submissions are obtained.
To promote an unbiased selection process, Baptiste removes the author's name from submissions and distributes them to the editorial board as part of her role as editor-in-chief. She also works with authors to revise selected submissions and works on the magazine's layout and management.
"On a campus of Middlebury's size and demographics, it is imperative that we celebrate diversity and identity in its myriad forms, and foster dialogue so as to create a more open, enlightened and intimate environment for all students, faculty and staff members," Baptiste said. "Skin Deep seeks to afford the members Middlebury College this opportunity, and in so doing, hopes to enrich the climate and experience Middlebury offers."

Writing on the Wall
Fosters Creativity

Writing on the Wall accepts all forms of student creative writing and art work for its bi-yearly publication. Each week, the club holds a workshop to discuss and critique the latest submissions to the magazine, putting an emphasis on the creative process.
"The aim [of the workshops] is to give the writers constructive feedback on their work, and allow them a chance to revise, if they desire, before publication," said Owen Strock '03, a member of Writing on the Wall.
Writing on the Wall has no editor, although Laura Erickson-Schroth '03 is the club's acting president. The club's six permanent staff members make all decisions pertaining to the content and design of the magazine. There are about 10 students who regularly contribute to the magazine, but all students are invited to attend the weekly meetings. "I guess what continually inspires me about this club is the amount of possibilities available and the amount of new ideas one can get simply by giving your work to an audience," Strock said.
Writing on the Wall was created two years ago and published its third journal last spring.

Otter Creek Journal Explores
Environmental Issues

Otter Creek Journal (OCJ) is "an environmental journal hoping to provide a stage for ongoing environmental and social discussion," according to Susan Simpson '03, co-editor.
The journal was founded in 1993 and is published each fall and spring, although a season is occasionally missed if there are not enough submissions or staff.
Nonfiction and fiction prose, poetry, drawings and photographs that reflect an interest in the environment are accepted throughout the fall and spring.
The definition of what is "environmental" is left open to interpretation, with the central philosophy being that "most things human happen within the environment," according to the editors. Thus, work dealing with life, love and understanding the human role in the natural and social environment are suitable topics for submission.
"Through the seasons and the years, the evolution of environmentalism and social movements are recorded in the written and artistic dialogues of the Otter Creek Journal," Simpson said.
Lucas Farrell '03 serves as co-editor along with Simpson. The editors coordinate submission times, work with interested students to design and lay out the publication and solicit submissions to represent a "community" of voices. A month before publication (November for the fall issue or April for the spring issue), the editorial staff chooses and formats submissions and creates a layout. Unlike other publications, the editors and editorial staff do not engage in heavy editing or serve as a peer review board, so submissions should be in a highly polished state upon submission. The OCJ is also unique in that it solicits work not only from students, but also from professors, alumni and community members from Middlebury and beyond.

Artemis: A Forum for
Feminism

Artemis is a feminist magazine, featuring articles, poems, stories and art work dealing mainly with feminist issues and/or written from a feminist perspective, according to co-editor Elizabeth Brookbank '03.
Both men and women are encouraged to submit their work, and because the magazine acknowledges that what embodies a "feminist" perspective is subject to debate, it welcomes all voices and perspectives.
Artemis has existed as a biannual publication since it was first published in 1992. This December, however, will be the first time it has been published in three semesters. "Mostly I have been trying to publicize the fact that Artemis is starting up again, and trying to solicit articles from people
," Brookbank said of her role as editor.
Kate Moffett '04 is also co-editor of Artemis. "A distinctively feminist voice is something that has become more and more rare, as many people believe there is no longer a need for such a perspective," Brookbank said. "I still see a need, a pressing need, for this voice, however, as do the men and women working on Artemis."

The Submissions Process

All four publications covered in this article encourage student submissions.
Epilogue welcomes the submission of articles "from across the political and ideological spectrum, as well as featuring creative writing and art," stated Honan.
For more information on how to become involved in Skin Deep Magazine, visit www.middlebury.edu/~skindeep or e-mail skindeep@middlebury.edu.
Students can be involved in Writing on the Wall simply by showing up at weekly meetings held Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the LaForce Seminar Room.
The Otter Creek Journal often struggles to gather enough submissions to remain a bi-yearly publication and especially welcomes work from academic classes or personal writings relating to the environment. Students should submit work to Susan Simpson, Box 2830 or to Luke Farrell, Box 3146, at any time.
Submissions to the December edition of Artemis are due Nov. 15 to Box 3277. Meetings will be held Thursday's at 6 p.m. in Chellis House as the deadline for publication draws nearer.