by Kieren Heinle, staff writer
Did you know you can get published at PPSC?
Parley is our school’s arts and literary journal and, as stated on the Parley website, “it is a commonwealth of academic and creative works that symbolize the excellence and diversity of our student body. It is a student publication in every sense of the phrase, students create and edit all published works.”
Parley has undergone significant changes since its inception in 2011 as an academic journal featuring the scholarly endeavors of PPSC students. Guided by rotating English faculty, the journal originally operated as a semester-long course where students collaborated on both content and design. But declining enrollment and budget cuts after the pandemic prompted the college to shift the journal into a faculty-run project. While the publication remained student-driven in content, a multimedia and graphic design class took over the design work, resulting in a biannual online edition and an annual print version.
But, as of this fall semester Parley has finally returned to the classroom! After paring down to weather the pandemic, the ENG department has reintroduced the Literary Magazine/ Print Publication and Design course (JOU 2015/ENG 2031), bringing students back into the editorial and publishing process. Students collaborate across disciplines to develop a concept for the print edition, solicit and curate submissions, and publish online materials.
Professor Mandy Solomon, editor-in-chief of Parley and instructor of the Literary Magazine course, says, “Parley showcases the creativity and talent of Pikes Peak State College’s students. It’s a collaborative effort!”
Parley promotes submissions through school advertisements; such as the Stall Street Journal, posters, and The Echo, as well as by word of mouth. Students may submit their work for consideration by emailing Parley@pikespeak.edu.
According to Solomon, the student editorial staff selects works for publication based on their quality: originality, scholarship, sophistication, creativity, timeliness, cultural significance, consistency, etc. Parley’s editorial staff also specify “works that demonstrate violence and hatred will not be considered for publication”.
To submit or view past and present online Parley publications, visit www.pikespeakparley.com.
