By Katrina Penaflor Campus Life Editor
The Northwest Passage celebrated the release of its spring issue Tuesday, May 26 in Hamersly Library. The party showcased students’ published work with a reading and was accompanied with music courtesy of KWOU radio.
Northwest Passage is a literary magazine equipped with creations of poetry, short stories, writing, art, and photography all submitted by members of Western’s community.
Emily Pate, a senior English major, was among the presenters. Her poem “The Fishwife” was inspired by a conversation she had with the Northwest Passage editor in chief, Bethany McWhorter, where they discussed a piece of Pate’s fiction that included the term fishwife.
“I realized that it is a very interesting word, and wanted to write a poem that explored potential meanings not usually associated with it,” she said.
“‘The Fishwife’ is about growing older, and how that changes someone’s perceptions, both about themselves and the world around them. Aging transforms both the body and the mind, so I wanted to depict that,” Pate said.
Poet and fifth-year elementary education major Emily DuMond presented powerful poems titled “You are needed” and “Bravery” that depicted the topic of suicide.
“I hope that my writing will reach those who need hope, that it will raise their spirits enough so that they think this life is worth living,” DuMond said.
After the poetry readings, a slide show showcased the art and photography that was published.
The work ranged from colorful screen prints depicting the effects of socially accepted vices to photographs of Haystack Rock.
Senior art major Jeanine Newsome talked about her untitled oil painting of an unmade bed. She said the piece reflected the “soft and calming nature when you go to sleep.”
The publication’s success is all thanks to students actively submitting their work and the editing work of English major and Northwest Passage editor-in-chief senior Bethany McWhorter.
“It has been a difficult process publishing issues this year, but I have been surprised by the turn out of creative works displayed by the talented students at [Western],” McWhorter said. “I hope that student involvement continues to grow in the coming year.”
She added, “it has been a wonderful experience working on the Northwest Passage and the wonderful staff of student media.”
