By Gary Collins/reporter

Under The Clock Tower, the NE Campus literary magazine, is now accepting submissions for the spring 2009 edition.

Under The Clock Tower, founded in 1991, publishes the work of NE students in four categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry and translation.

During its 18 years, the magazine won second place in 2004 and 2005 in the Southwestern division of the Community College Humanities Association’s national literary magazine competition.

“It’s to celebrate student writings,” said associate professor of English Rebecca Balcarcel. “We have a lot of talented writers on campus. We have all this good writing going on, and this is a good creative outlet.”

The number of applicants has risen each semester from 193 in spring 2007 to 207 in fall 2008.

The deadline for submissions is 10 p.m. April 10.

The top four winners in each category will receive cash prizes. First place will receive $100, second $75, third $50 and fourth $25.

Balcarcel said by giving cash prizes, she hopes to inspire students to write outside of school.

Eligible students must be enrolled on NE Campus or in a distance-learning class with a NE-based instructor.

Dual enrollment high school students taking classes taught by a NE instructor can also enter.

Students can enter more than one entry piece, but a separate entry form is required. Work can be submitted in all categories but are limited to four poems, two essays and two short stories.

Applicants can visit www.stripedgazelle.org/cgi-bin/competition/applicant for more information and to upload their work or to print an entry form.