SCOPE student literary journal released

BY ALFONSO GONZALEZ GOMEZ Staff Writer

Sigma Tau Delta, Ouachita’s international English honor society, released the university’s 32nd edition of SCOPE on April 26.

SCOPE is an annual bilingual literary journal that contains a variety of students’ creative works. This year’s publication includes poems, short stories, art and photography.

Hannah Smith, this year’s design editor for SCOPE, mentions that the journal is a great way for students at Ouachita to get their artistic works published and a way for their classmates to appreciate the values of Scholars Day.

However, not every piece submitted makes it into the journal. In order for an entry to be published, it must be selected by a committee put together by the English honor society. The journal ensures only the best works are published through the use of committees. Riley Collins, Alex Moore and Andy

Strauss served as the managing editors, which means that they were in charge of the various committees. This selection process has proven successful for the journal in the past, as Ouachita’s 2022 edition of SCOPE was chosen as the best overall literary paper by the national Sigma Tau Delta board.

“SCOPE is an opportunity for the more artistic side of students to be shown,” Smith said. “We have Assayers and other opportunities for students to showcase their academic work, but we do not have as many that celebrate creative efforts. SCOPE hopes to provide more opportunity to see students’ creative work.”

Scope is also made in collaboration with the Spanish honor society, Sigma Delta Pi, which helps translate the stories, poems and titles of the art and photography pieces and also accepts entries in Spanish.

Breanna Watson served as the head translator this year, and Mackenzie Amaya, Pietra Gois, Elizabeth Hahn, Emma Mackey, Jack Webb and Graca Webster also provided Spanish translations.

Smith cited Emma Smith’s “Lowkey Bound” as one of the highlights in this year’s publication of SCOPE. Smith also pointed out the quality of the poems, photography and art chosen.

Inclusivity is a big reason as to why SCOPE has been so successful. Students from any major and background are encouraged to submit works for consideration.

“We took pieces from a lot of different students from a lot of different majors,” Smith said.

The funds raised from the sale of SCOPE on Scholars Day go back to the English honor society. Sigma Tau Delta plans on continuing to develop SCOPE in the years to come and hopes to give Ouachita students from all corners of campus the opportunity to show off their creative efforts. Those interested in purchasing a copy of SCOPE can stop by the Department of Language and Literature in Lile Hall 220 to pick up a copy.