UNA’s student literary and arts magazine, Lights & Shadows, was recognized as “Superior” by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) as part of the Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Contest. Schools in 44 states, Washington D.C. and six countries nominated 456 student magazines to be reviewed.
“Earning a ‘superior’ rating from the National Council of Teachers of English is an outstanding achievement and testament to the creativity and editorial excellence of our Lights & Shadows students – supported not only by their wonderful faculty mentor, Mr. Daryl Brown, but by the full strength of our faculty in the Department of English who cultivate writing, critique, and artistic growth every day,” said Dr. Ryan Zayac, Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. “We are immensely proud to see UNA’s student voices recognized on a national stage.”
Hayden Jordan, an assistant editor with Lights & Shadows, described what this recognition means for student voices on campus.
“I believe that this recognition on a national level validates the writers who have been able to have their work published in the magazine and allows for their complex and raw feelings to be understood and acknowledged as art by a larger organization,” she said. “It also allows for those writers to be seen and heard, and have their work taken seriously.”
NCTE has worked to further the voice and expertise of educators as advocates for their students at the local and federal levels for more than 100 years. They are devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education.
The REALM program publicly recognizes excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers. According to their website, “[REALM] is designed to encourage all schools to develop literary magazines that celebrate the art and craft of writing.”
The 63rd issue of Lights & Shadows featured four chapters based on the four readings of the title: “The (Dis) Comfort of (Not) Knowing.” Each chapter focuses on themes relating to certainty or uncertainty of the future and trails the path from innocence to maturity.
Jordan explained what set Lights & Shadows apart this year.
“We are officially recognized as an RSO [Registered Student Organization],” She said. “When I first joined the Lights & Shadows team, there was only me and two other women working on it, and now we are up to a group of six talented women.”
While the magazine is fully run by UNA students, they are all under the supervision of Faculty Advisor Professor Daryl Brown. He helps and supports students navigate through the details and hardships throughout the production of the magazine.
“From email submissions to submissions, to working with authors, to doing interviews to deciding on a layout…To deal with every aspect of the journal, to me, is an invaluable experience,” said Brown.
Student editorial staff will honor “The Dis (Comfort) of (Not) Knowing” by giving away free copies at the 70th anniversary celebration of the literary and arts magazine on April 1 2-4 p.m. in the Guillot University Center.
