Molly Dotson, a student at Clark, signed up for Art 280 not knowing what exactly the class was about.

    “I happened to sign up for the class because it sounded exciting,” Dotson says. “I didn’t even know it was going to be a publication for the Phoenix.”

    Art 280 is described in the Connections magazine as a class intended for the Phoenix staff, yet it is not entirely clear how involved the class truly is.

    “I knew what the Phoenix was, but I had no idea what was behind it,” Dotson says.

    Dotson discovered that behind the Phoenix is a network of students, who collectively publish student contributions.

    On the front, of Phoenix is a student literature and visual arts publication. It was conceptualized many years ago as an opportunity for students to showcase their art and writing, from the academic year.

    Rita Carey, English adviser for the Phoenix, says, “In 1957, we published the first one it wasn’t Phoenix, it was called the Egg.”

    Carey has been an English professor at Clark for 17 years. She has seen the publication change in many ways, except for one very important standard. Since the beginning, the ASCC has paid for the budget and the publication has been entirely about student work.

    As it turns out the Phoenix is unique compared to other publications from Washington state Community Colleges. Carey says: “Unlike other magazines in the state of Washington this one only publishes student work. The others will publish professionals in the community.”

    Mary Kate Carmichael, the Graphic Editor for the Phoenix, is particularly proud. “A group of students work on it for the entire year,” Carmichael says. “The students are the driving force behind this publication.”

    Carmichael leads a team of fellow students who are the back bone behind the magazine.

    Carmichael says, “We were here many a Saturday and over spring break and I don’t think I will be lucky enough to have a group of people who work this well together again.”

    A team of students craft the magazine from cover to cover. They select the art and writings that ultimately make the pages, lay out and design all of the visual features, hold meetings to negotiate budgets and work to promote the magazine from conception to distribution.

    Martha Lewis, who advises the graphic portion of the publication says, “Presenting it more as a campaign… meant everybody got to bring their thoughts to the table and participate.”

    Students at Clark may be familiar with many of the promotional projects that have been showcasing the Phoenix. The campaign started with the bright blue signage near the chime tower, and has extended steadily across the campus. The Phoenix staff has recently ramped up the promotional campaign to increase interest in the unveiling of the publication.

    Assistant Graphic Editor Rachel Gregg says, “(Phoenix staff) put them (blue signs) all over campus…  Now that we are doing the unveiling process, it is nice to see people say ‘what’s that?’”

    Emily Antone, assistant literature editor, actually came to know about the Phoenix because of the self promotion of the group. Antone saw the original blue Phoenix signage and was curious to find out what it was all about.

    “I had no idea what it was,” Antone says. “It was intriguing, I looked into it and asked Rita Carey about it.”

    Antone went on to join the class and ultimately plays a contributing role. Antone has previously published literature in other publications, she sees the Phoenix as a way to expand her portfolio, “I was on that immediately,” Antone says.

    For art students or the English students the Phoenix is a chance to get their work juried and accepted into a program that will bolster their reputation, confidence and resume. The Phoenix selects all of its work from student body contributions.

    “It is an amazing opportunity for students to be published and have their work,” Gregg says.

    Not all of the work that is submitted makes it into the final publication. Submissions are juried by a group of students. The students on the selection committee are members of the Phoenix staff and other students from the campus community who have no commitment to the publication process.

    This year the jury committee was flooded with entries. Despite the influx of artwork the Phoenix staff was disappointed that some student work was not submitted for the publication.

    Tara Badtram, photography editor for the Phoenix thinks it may be the fear of rejection that keeps some of the students from submitting good work. “I don’t know if it is just that they are nervous,” Badtram says. “(Maybe) they think it won’t get in?”

    For students who do want to submit work the staff has some advice.

    “Go to a faculty member and ask ‘what are my strong points, what should I turn in,’” Gregg suggests.

    “If it was a copy of professional art, don’t submit it,” Dotson says.

    Assistant photo editor, Aaron Langwell suggests the work should be specific in intent. Some class work is not considered original by the selection committee. “An exercise is an exercise,” Langwell says, “It isn’t art work”

    The magazine influences the campus culture “I think it is cool to see what your fellow students are creating,” Badtram says.

    Emily Kilbourn, web editor for the Phoenix, sees the campus impact as well. “It is a connecting piece,” Kilbourn says. “You have literature from Hanna and you have the art from Frost, and then you have the graphics arts. We never see each other but this is something that connects everything together.”

    The Phoenix will be unveiled Tuesday, May 13. The event will be held in the Penguin Student Lounge between 3 and 4 p.m. Copies of the Phoenix are free to students.