Four decades of rotating student viewership, tight budgets and shifting campus culture haven’t stopped South Campus’ student literary magazine.
Script is a yearly journal run by students, faculty, librarians and writing center staff, which celebrated the release of its latest edition on Sept. 11. Any South student can submit original work for publication.
“This is our 40th anniversary of Script, which is a long time for a lit mag to stay alive, so this issue is special,” English instructor and chair Lindsey Davis said. “With budgets being cut left and right, a lot of other lit mags have had to go strictly digital and don’t have the budget to print anymore, and I think there’s something so magical and important for any writer or creator to see their work in print, especially that first time.”
Along with celebrating the newest release, multiple student submissions were recognized in categories including essays, poems, visual art and dance choreography.
Among them was Sara O’Lague, a former TCC student taking a break year to work at Goldilinks Jewelry in Arlington, where she has her own line of handmade earrings.
“I’ve always wanted to write, but I’ve just never thought that I could or that I had that in me,” O’Lague said. “And I’ve always had a really hard time starting with a blank slate, so whenever I started making jewelry, I was like, ‘Wow, this is so much easier. This is my thing.’”
While working at a small business, she finds time to create essays like “Toothpaste,” which she was awarded for at the Sept. 11 event.
The essay focuses on the feeling of losing connection to her hometown after years of change, she said.
“I think what the award really reminded me of was that all of my creative pursuits deserve my attention and at that time I needed to write,” O’Lague said. “Like, I didn’t have someone to talk to and so I was writing a lot. And you know, now my life has changed.”
UTA student Skylar Leonard, who came to support a friend winning an award, said TCC does a particularly good job of celebrating its artistic students.
““Not only that, but I am an artist myself, and I love seeing other artists being recognized for their amazing work,” Leonard said.
Davis said working on the editorial board is not only good for students’ resumes but having the experience of sharing their creativity with an audience.
“What’s so important is Script is a place where no matter what your background, or your experience, or your imagination, your vision is, Script is a place that says that matters and that gets to live on here,” Davis said.
