Students will soon have another fix for their creative needs. Beginning this fall, Binghamton University will boast its only chartered undergraduate literary journal, Ellipsis.
“The journal is about creativity,” Marissa Fielstein, president of Ellipsis, said. “It’s a chance for every student to get their writing out. Everyone has a different viewpoint. This way we can read about stuff we’ve never heard of before.”
The journal was the brainchild of Andrei Guruianu, who is currently a funded graduate student in the English department. He is also the Broome County Poet Laureate 2009-11. Guruiano completed his undergraduate studies at BU in 2001, after switching his major from chemistry to English.
“I fell in love with creative writing toward the end, but then there was no place to publish,” Guruiano said. “The graduate students have Harpur Palate, but there is not one venue for undergraduates. There is no collection that brings it all together.”
According to Ellipsis’ executive director, sophomore Joe Monte, the journal took only about a month to organize.
The editorial board is asking undergraduates to submit poetry, fiction and personal essays. Some instructors also have students working on profiles to submit.
“This way students have a goal in mind when they’re writing,” Guruianu said.
“There are a lot of creative writers in classes here and people deserve a voice and venue,” Guruianu said. “There are also a lot of closet poetry writers out there.”
Students of all majors are encouraged to submit.
“We want the journal to illustrate the diversity in Binghamton, in ideas, background, personalities and talents,” Fielstein said.
The journal will have three sections: poetry, creative fiction and creative non-fiction, with three editors per section. Monte will serve as the executive director, and Guruianu, the “11th member,” will be the adviser.
The first issue is expected to be about 60 to 70 pages. It has already received a fair number of submissions, Monte said.
Several names were debated before Ellipsis was selected.
“We wanted something general,” Fielstein said. “When used in works it leaves the story open-ended.”
An ellipsis is a set of dots indicating an omission from a speech or writing.
“The three dots leave you wondering,” Monte added.
In keeping with this theme, the Ellipsis crew has ideas to expand into other mediums, to enable more people to share their writing.
“There are so many possibilities, that we’re not limited to just a few hundred printed copies,” Guruianu said.
Monte, for example, is a DJ for WHRW 90.5, the BU radio station, and may include a poetry portion on his show. Other possibilities include hosting open-mic nights and starting a weekly show online where people can hear poems.
According to Guruianu, many campuses do have undergraduate journals and many have grown to the point where they get submissions from all over the country. He hopes that Ellipsis will eventually reach this level of prominence.
Ellipsis has contacted the Student Poets Society and is eager to reach out to other organizations.
“We have a few fundraising ideas. It’s a hassle, but we’re confident that it will work,” Fielstein said.
This week Ellipsis has been tabling and selling Valentine’s Day candy.
The students are also requesting funds from the e-boards of individual communities.
There will be a general interest meeting for interested students at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the Graduate Student Lounge, which is located across from the coffee kiosk in the Library Tower.
Ellipsis also has a labeled collection bin for submissions in Library Tower, room 1149, the English department office.
“We’re open to everything in terms of style, not just one kind of work,” Guruianu said. “It just has to be good.”
“We were happy to be chartered so quickly and that the public is so interested in submitting. It’s a good start and we’re very confident,” Monte said.