A major in digital technology and culture began publishing during the pandemic, was inspired by the ‘mermaids’ of Oregon State University
The WSU Women*s Center is currently taking submissions for Harpy*s Magazine.
Jackelyn Sedano, coordinator of the Women*s Center program, said the magazine is a feminist, student-run publication that started in the 2020-21 school year.
“It’s basically a magazine centered around the Women*s Center’s mission to advocate for the rights of people of all genders, to discuss gender justice,” Sedano said.
Women*s Center director Amy Sharp said the idea for the magazine came from a digital technology and literacy student who was looking to create a magazine for students to share their gender justice work.
Sharp said the student was inspired by an Oregon State University magazine called “Sirens,” and went from there.
The first issue was published in the middle of the pandemic, so she didn’t have many submissions to work with, Sharp said.
“She connected with LandEscapes, and they did different things,” Sharp said. “We’re trying to get the name out there so we can get some great submissions, and so far it looks like things are going well.”
Sharp said Harpy*s is a digital magazine. The Women*s Center is looking for submissions in several different areas.
The magazine accepts submissions such as poetry, art, graphic design and articles, Sedano said. The Women*s Center accepts all levels and abilities, so some software such as Adobe is not required to submit to the magazine.
If someone wants to remain anonymous, they can use a pseudonym instead of their real name, she said.
Sharp said the president of the Coalition for Women Students last year was a serious poet and submitted her work but wished to remain anonymous. When she saw people’s reactions to her poem, she decided to publish it under her real name.
It can be scary for someone to share their work for the first time, but submitting to the magazine can be good practice for getting something published, she said.
“It’s a good way to test how it feels so you can make your work available and see what other people have to say,” Sharp said. “And everyone here is so supportive.”
If someone wants to start their work, Sharp said submitting to Harpy*s is a good place to start.
Sedano said the magazine’s development is something she looks forward to. She watched the first edition go through the publishing process, which was everyone’s first chance to work on the magazine.
“Every year a different group of students work there,” she says. “This year it’s more about seeing what this team has to offer for the zine.”
Sedano said that for this year’s edition, the Women*s Center is working with LandEscapes.
The two publications have collaborated to create an open creative studio for people to come and work on poetry, art and painting, she said. There was even a poetry slam, where people who were comfortable sharing their songs with the band.
“I think we’re really starting to develop a relationship where we can work smarter, not harder, because they’re often looking for submissions. We’re looking for submissions, so just work together, submit to each other’s magazines, that kind of collaboration,” Sedano said.
People can submit their work to [email protected], and submissions will close in early April, Sharp said.
