WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., April 18, 2022 — West Liberty University’s College of Liberal and Creative Arts marks the unification of two WLU colleges (College of Liberal Arts and College of Arts and Communication) this week with a variety of events.
Today at 3 p.m. there is a launch of the newly-named literary journal, Threshold. The public launch with open mic readings will be held in the Alumni Room of the College Union. Light refreshments will be served.
Formerly known as Ampersand, the student run journal changed this year.
“We will have both print and digital publishing for Threshold, which includes about half writing and the other half artwork submissions from our students,” said Dr. Scott Hanna, English professor and faculty advisor for the journal.
The name change came about due to the creation a class called Literary Publishing.
“The new class offered credit for the students on the staff of the journal. When we got together at the beginning of the year, the class re-envisioned the work and wanted to create a quality magazine with a catchy name, suggestive of literature,” explained Hanna.
Students came up with Threshold based on the concept of a door and its function as “the point or level at which something begins or changes.”
The staff of Threshold 2022 includes:
- Editor-in-Chief, Alexis Walton
- Assistant Editor, Samantha Eimer
- Lead Copy Editor, Jessica Dobbins
- Submissions Manager/Copy Editor, Madison Cavicchia
- Public Relations Manager, Anna Griffith
- Prose Editor, Alyssa Witter
- Poetry Editor, Mohamed Isma Amara
- Head of Design, Abigail Beckelhimer
The staff of Threshold believes in the transformative power of art and that engaging with art and the creative process is, in itself, the act of crossing a threshold—into new ideas, new thoughts, and new spaces. Crossing a threshold also suggests a passage into the unknown or a return to the familiar, the beginning of a journey, or a homecoming, according to Hanna.
“We want to give opportunities to young, developing student-artists in our community. We hope all campus with join us in our launch today,” he said.
The launch also recognizes National Poetry Month and contributors are welcome to read from their work in the journal or read a favorite poem or original work during the open mic.
Also, artwork from the journal will be on display.
The publishing of a literary journal has a long tradition on the Hilltop and includes a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and artwork from our students since the journal’s founding in the 1970s. Originally, Ampersand was the publication of the Omicron Nu Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society.
Students were permitted to submit up to four poems, four pieces of artwork, and/or creative nonfiction and fiction works 3,000 words or less.
The College of Liberal and Creative Arts is led by Dean Dr. Cecilia Conchar-Farr and includes majors in majors in music, theater, art and design, communication, media arts, criminal justice, English, geography, history, political science, sociology, and social work.
For more information, please contact the College of Liberal and Creative Arts at 304.336.8061.