Quilt is the University of Tampa's undergraduate student-run Literary and Journal since 1978. We get our unique name from the inspiration of how quilts are made. Although we are often confused as a group of quilters, we are rather a patchwork of creative forces coming together in our publication and our events. We are not only isolated to one genre, but we publish and appreciate all the arts--music is incorporated at out open mike events throughout the semesters.
We are one of three student-run publications--the others are the Minaret (http://www.theminaretonline.com/) and the Moroccan (yearbook). We are able to produce our journal, invite a well-known writer to UT each year, and, as of recently, attend the AWP writing conference through a very generous budget provided by Student Government and the Student Activities Office.
Journal: We publish a high-quality journal once a year. We pride ourselves on publishing the most innovative, polished, and creative pieces of artwork and writing that the UT student body creates. Our selection process is done by "Blank Readings," where the authors name is not on the submissions to ensure minimal bias. Each year, we break down into committees for art + photography, fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry to judge the work. There is an editor appointed to each section who organizes of a committee of three readers. The winner and runner-up in each genre receives a monetary prize.
The actual journal is designed using Adobe InDesign in a clean and professional layout and appearance. We use the best paper we can afford and have color artwork throughout. The journal is perfect bound and usually has a pagination of around 100. Each year we print between 1,000 and 1,500 copies--these are, in turn, given to UT students as a gift.
Quilt's Corner: This is a fairly new endeavor created in the Fall of 2007. Basically, Quilt has partnered with the school newspaper, The Minaret, to do a weekly feature of student artwork and writing. Our hope is to create a greater appreciation of student creativity around campus and also to inform people that we exist as a journal. It has been a great success so far. It can be found in the hardcopy of each issue on campus or on their website at www.theminaretonline.com under Quilt's Corner.
Staff: Quilt is an ever-evolving journal, because our staff invariably changes every year. This is a result of students graduating and new students joining, and the editor typically changes every year. Because of this, one of the biggest boundaries Quilt has to surpass is forward thrust, since each new editor wants new things and has to learn how to accomplish bureaucratic business in the university, despite any training he or she may have had. Our current staff for the 2007/2008 year consists of:
Coffeehouse Weekend: Each year, Quilt invites a notable author to UT to read his/her work, workshop individually with up to 10 students, and perform a class visit according to his/her genre. This has been a tradition in Quilt for 20-odd years. In previous years we have had the honor of hosting the Coptic poet, Matthew Shenoda; fiction writer, Pam Houston; poet, Molly Peacock; and fiction writer, Amy Hempel. In 2008, acclaimed short story writer Mary Gaitskill shared new work. In March 2009, prize-winning poet Henri Cole will be reading. Coffeehouse weekend (which isn't always during the weekend) ends with a celebrative open-mike where students and professors come together to appreciate the music and writing of each other. The winners in each genre for our journal are also announced and recognized at this event.
AWP Writing Conference: Quilt was able to attend its first writing conference at AWP in 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. We were able to bring 8 students, driving 2 cars from Tampa, Florida. This is a great opportunity to be exposed to current trends in the writing world and to see what other people are doing. It also provides Quilt with chances for national spotlight. At the AWP Conference in New York City, Chris Janus (former editor-in-chief) and Audrey Colombe were part of a panel, Forum for Undergraduate Student Editors, to discuss the intracacies of studen publishing. AWP will be in Chicago in 2009.