By: Brandon “Brando” Rojas
Most students walk past it without knowing it exists, but Dominican has had a literary magazine for more than 90 years. Stella Veritatis is written by students, faculty, and staff, chosen by a classroom of undergraduate editors, and the newest issue is now in print.
Every fall, students of ENGL 334: Editing the Literary Journal received a stack of anonymous poems, stories, scripts and comics called the “slush pile,” and their job is to decide what makes it into print.
Sabrina Glossen, an English student enrolled in the class, described the magazine as “a beautiful love letter to the Dominican community.”
When English professor and the course’s former advisor Maggie Andersen heard that description, she answered with a single word: “YES.” Students, faculty, and staff can submit up to three pieces of any literary work, in any language ranging from Spanish to Japanese.
It’s not just for English majors; Andersen rebuilt the class so students from every major could learn real editing skills.
“I designed a class where students from all majors could gather weekly and curate an entire issue of the magazine by the end of the semester,” Andersen stated.
The magazine has a long history. Its predecessor, The Eagle, lasted more than 85 years; before that it was the Little Eagle. In 2016, Andersen’s students decided the name sounded “a little high-school,” so they brainstormed new names, voted, and landed on Stella Veritatis, Latin for “Star of Truth.” Which is a nod to the university’s mascot and to honor the Catholic intellectual tradition.
One student called it “a blend of new school and old school.”
The editors don’t do the designing alone, as they have a team of professional graphic designers that handle the layout, but the writers keep the creative direction over the look of their pages.
Past issues are saved in the university’s archives, and librarians are working on eventually putting them online.
For nervous students who are thinking about submitting, Glossen shares some advice and encourages to “just put yourself out there.”
The best writing, she says, is “vulnerable and emotional.”
The class isn’t perfect, she said. Some editors are also finding their confidence as the semester goes on, and they hope the Dominican voice is heard.
The 10th issue, launched on Wednesday, November 4 was Dominican’s Caritas Veritas symposium with music, snacks, and printed copies that were handed out for everyone who came.
As Andersen puts it: “Look out, world.”
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