By Carley Crain
@carley_crain12
A group of students sit close together at a long table in Weiser Hall as they plan, strategize and create content for their upcoming edition of The Alden Street Review. Excitement fills the air. The literary magazine, which has been a part of campus for over 40 years now, is seeking submissions for its Spring release. Their identity isn’t just focused on writing, as the magazine is a collection of artwork, essays, narrative pieces and poetry.
The Alden Street Review gives students an opportunity to be creative in numerous ways. Many submissions are written pieces, but artwork and photography has also been a staple for every recent edition.
“We have really lively conversations about the writing, but we also have to collaborate, compromise and cooperate together,” said Emma Halloran.
The club is run by English professor Justine Dymond, as well as Co-Editors-in-Chief Rowan Beckford and Emma “Bunny” Halloran. They aim to make the magazine thought-provoking and integrating for readers through work that is enticing for the Springfield College community.
“We try to keep personal bias out of our decision to publish certain media,” added Halloran. “We really try to go about it in the way of how we want to represent Springfield College and the Alden Street Review.”
Submissions are also not just limited to students as the editorial staff for the Alden Street Review is encouraging teachers, faculty and staff to also create written pieces or artwork for the magazine. In the 2020 edition, the magazine featured multiple pieces done by professors in the English department, such as Alice Eaton’s poem, Star, and Donna Laviolette’s numerous photographs.
Angelica Core’s narrative from the 2020 edition, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, is one example of the power of vulnerability through writing.
Her piece was about the abusive relationship she was in during her freshman year of college. Publishing a piece like this opens the door for many women to feel comfortable speaking up about their experiences. Writing has proven to be an activity that helps people gather and take control of their thoughts.
The magazine has recently seen many submissions centered around social justice issues, and the staff is hopeful that this will continue. At a college like Springfield, where many are invested in diversity, the editorial staff wants to make sure they are actively creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.
“It is amazing the amount of talent we have on campus, and it’s not always in those specific majors exclusively,” said Dymond.
If you are interested in submitting a piece for The Alden Street Review for this upcoming edition, email it to aldenstreetreview@gmail.com by Feb. 7. The staff asks for written pieces to be typed and under 1,500 words.
Photo from Springfield Student