Front Range Community College-Westminster creates a student driven, campus-wide journal titled Howl every two years. This year the third edition was released at the Howl Release Party on April 21, in the College Hill Library. The event had music by FRCC’s Gypsy Jazz Trio, a free copy of Howl, and refreshments that were served. Attendees could meet the writers and artists, while also listening to the authors read their works.
Howl’s name embraces our school’s mascot, the gray wolf. Its name also gives respect towards Allen Ginsberg, a Colorado local and author of Howl, a poem which calls young writers to embrace a fervid writing style.
The first volume was published by Randy Russell, a professor in the Westminster Campus English and Communication department. For consecutive volumes, Tino Gomez, chair of the Westminster Campus English and Communication department worked together with Russell as staff editors.
As the book embraces student involvement, Olivia Orr, a student designer, worked together with design supervisor Mike Ruberto, art submissions editor Lydia Brokaw, as well as Gomez and Russell to design the journal.
Howl is a pinnacle of student work, and is filled from beginning to end with artfully chosen creations. Each part of the journal embraces student involvement and the growth of creative art. Howl is a physical manifestation of what an organized group of students and staff artists can construct. The staff act as a catalyst, as the students are the ones truly in control of this masterful entity.
The student and staff work ethic can be described as “the culmination of energy directed at one common goal, to support and be a part of the magazine,” said Gomez.
Overall, the development of the book relies on the amount of creative writing classes available at Westminster. If more creative writing courses are available, more students will submit their works and hopefully the book can be created annually instead of the two year development process currently in place.
The ability for students to develop and enjoy a physical creation of this quality is spectacular to view as a fellow student. “It’s a labor of love for all of those involved,” said Gomez, “often times this is the first time a student has been published.”
Gomez would like to thank the administration for offering fiscal support throughout the entire process of creating this professional journal. Without these critical funds, students would be unable to grow together through this artful piece.
Students interested in publishing their works can email randy.russell@frontrange.edu or tino.gomez@frontrange.edu.
Written by Jacob Hallberg
