Publication gives students a platform

Giving students a platform in “Oregon East”

Oct. 17, 2019 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Since 1950, Oregon East (OE) has been committed to featuring student writers and artists. In celebration of students’ creations, a publication party for the new issue of “Oregon East” will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 24 in Pierce Library.

“Oregon East” is a student-led practicum designed to give students a platform to share their writing and art.

The magazine publishes pieces students can claim as their own.

“It gives them a boost of confidence that they know they are on the right track, that their work has value and that they are validated as artists,” said Lora Alix, editor of “Oregon East.”

This year’s collection portrays different topics, such as a “speculative realist depiction of a relationship ending, work representing the ‘Me Too’ movement, to family dynamics, science fiction, and a young woman learning to fly fish,” English professor David Axelrod said.

“The artwork demonstrates students focusing on vivid imagery of motherhood, the human figure in vulnerable moments, chimeras, family portraiture, and ecological imagination,” Axelrod said.

Published artists will share their pieces at the gala.

As the longest running publication on campus, OE takes pride in “showcasing the talent that we have here at EOU — both in our artists and our writers,” Alix said.

Officially published on campus for the first time in 1977, “Oregon East” has an unbroken history. Although different publication names, student’s interests, ideas and talents have been represented through “The Middle R,” “The Oregon Collegiate Review” and “Underpass.” The entire run is collected and available in Pierce Library.

The gala is free and open to the public. Students can pick up their free copies of “Oregon East” at the gala with a student ID. Non-students can purchase copies for $5.

For more information, please contact David Axelrod or daxelrod@eou.edu.

Written by PR Intern Briana Rosenkranz.