Review is valuable asset to student writers
By Tara Kathleen King
The new issue of the Santa Clara Review, the university's literary publication, will make its debut on Wednesday night with a publication party in the Mission Gardens between Varsi Hall and the Adobe Lodge. The party's theme parallels the cover of the new magazine, incorporating the idea of circus or carnival. This event commemorates all the difficult labor involved in the creation of the review.
The publication of the Review is a lengthy process, involving many hard-working staff members. There are ten paid staff positions and approximately ten practicum members who work on the review.
"Practicum members meet weekly to discuss submissions and partake in the decision making as to which pieces are actually published in the Review.Ã The section editors make the final decisions," Nicole Winkler-Schaefer, the Review's public relations coordinator, said.
These members receive one unit of credit per quarter for participating in the production of the Review.Ã It also provides invaluable experience for a potential career in publication, and helps them get acquainted with the runnings of the Review process.
In return for this hard work, the Review works to achieve its goal of "(providing) students an opportunity to develop leadership, communication, and editorial skills by participating in practicum, volunteering as assistants, and working as paid staff members," according to The Review Mission Statement. Ã
A surprising fact about the Review is that it publishes work from people all over the world, not just Santa Clara students. The Review is "seeking out diverse student talent and fostering the growth of student writers and artists, the publication draws from the SCU community as well as from writers around the world," the Mission Statement says.
The staff of the Santa Clara Review emphasizes the importance of Santa Clara students submitting their work to the publication.
"We are strongly encouraging SCU students to submit more pieces so the Review can reflect the talent on our campus," Winkler-Schaefer said.
Unfortunately, the off-campus contributions currently exceed the number of those from on-campus .
For people interested in submitting work, the Santa Clara Review seeks to publish "quality poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and art," according to its Mission Statement.
"Works published in the Review reflect the high quality that has always been our standard since 1869," Winkler-Schaefer said.
"The Review celebrates artistic endeavors, not only of literary nature but also visual works. A color selection of artwork is sandwiched between a sprinkling of black-and-white work, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction," said Winkler-Schaefer.
The Santa Clara Review has been, in many ways, an opportunity for students to explore a career in writing and publication before they venture into the industry.
"The Santa Clara Review reaches quite an audience both on and beyond campus, so I consider it an honor to have work accepted for publication in it," Katherine Quevedo, a contributing writer to the Review, said.
"The submission process gives me a glimpse into how the publication world works, in case I try to take my writing further in the future. Participating in the practicum class has given me more insights into the types of writing that people are producing these days and the sorts of concerns that the editors can find in the submissions they receive. And hearing all the diverse feedback from the other students in practicum makes me more alert when I'm writing."
Writing for the Review has provided many of its contributors an outlet for expression.
"Writing is a creative outlet for me," Matthew Barnette said.Ã "I enjoy being creative with everything in my life from speech, writing, papers, tests, to what I'm doing Friday night, anything. Professors throughout my experience here at Santa Clara have taught me large amounts of valuable information and I've retained a couple tools to help me use writing as a medium for creativity."
Barnette is joined in this view by Meghan Cress. "Personally, writing has proven itself to be an amazing outlet for my emotions, creativity, organization of thought, you name it," Cress said. "Sometimes it is difficult to verbally communicate feelings, especially during this transitional phase of college life. Writing provides an alternate vehicle for conveying these feelings."
"No university, I feel, would be complete without a vehicle for expression and creativity," Heidi Logothetti, the Review's associate editor, said.Ã "The Review is an excellent way to put out in public the great masterpiece that's been seething in your brain in between working out derivatives and finishing that essay."
For those interested in submitting work for the next publication of the Santa Clara Review, the next deadline for submission will fall around late October or early November.
The release party Wednesday night will include free copies of the new issue of the Review. Free food and drinks will be available. Entertainment for the evening will include music, magic, and art displays.
"Selected contributors published in the latest issue will share their pieces, including artists," Winkler-Schaefer said. "The original art will also be on display."
The Review's "Create" t-shirts and their newly available bookmarks will be on sale.
"Personally, I love the cover we selected for the issue. A few of our staff members were slightly disturbed by it. . .but what's art if not a little disturbing?" Heidi Logothetti, associate editor of the Review, said. "The piece is extremely effective."
The Review is free to students, faculty, and contributing members. The rest of the public may purchase copies for $5.
Copies can be previewed at the publication party or in Benson, room 16, the Review's office. It will also be distributed around campus.