Review Releases Latest Issue With a Bang

Art, culture to come to life at publication party next week

John FlynnTHE SANTA CLARAFebruary 12, 2014 

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]fter 146 years, Santa Clara Review is trying something different for the release of Vol. 102, Issue 1.

Wednesday, the Review’s editors will share favorite works at their usual publication party, but Santa Clara’s student-run performance arts club, The Stable, will also provide a roster of performers followed by an hour-long open mic. 

“We pride ourselves on being the spark for creative energy on campus, so this is the event to say ‘Look at what we’re publishing and let’s hear what you guys have to say too,’” said Jake Lans, Santa Clara Review’s editor-in-chief. “We wanted to make it more interactive. We wanted to garner creative energy on campus and have people express themselves in a safe forum.”

The two clubs focus on artistic expression. The Review has been publishing student work since Ulysses S. Grant was president and The Stable was founded two years ago to showcase the fruits of creative students.

“(Lans) and I had been talking about doing a collaborative event with the Review and The Stable for a while, because we both have the intention of bolstering the student artistic scene,” said Buddy Lorentz, founder and lead emcee of The Stable. “This was the perfect chance for that.”

Lorentz’s organization hosts bi-weekly open mic events in the Shapell Lounge that have been steadily increasing in popularity and attendance.

“They are in lieu of having a cool cafe where you can go and hang out, and hear good art, and schmooze with people who dig stuff you dig,” said Lorentz.

The Stable offers a frequent meeting ground for students to showcase their art and talent.

With dedication from both faculty and students, these two student organizations are aiming to bring a  new wave of creative expression to campus.

Both Lans and Kirk Glaser, the faculty advisor of the Review,  spoke about collaborating with creative writing classes to add more student work to their literary magazine.

Lans, however, shared his frustration with the lack of student expression on campus. Although the issue will feature nearly double the amount of poetry than normal, none of it is student written. The only current student work to be published in this issue is a painting by junior Courtney Griffith.

“I want to get more students submitting,” said Lans. “I want this event to be a call to arms, like ‘Give us your work!’ We’re a pretty reputable literary magazine, and it’s an honor to be published.”

Glaser would also like to see an increase  in student-created submissions.

“We hope events like the spoken word feature of the publication party will make more students aware of the publication and inspire them to submit their work,” said Glaser. “Ideally, our goal is to be able to print the best student work alongside that of professional writers and artists.”

Contact John Flynn at jfflynn@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.