The Salmon Creek Journal adapted to pandemic-related changes by creating a digital presence to continue to bring students and community members a platform for literary and visual arts.
Easily recognizable by their mascot, “Sammy the Slammin’ Salmon,” The Salmon Creek Journal is a WSU Vancouver student media organization that compiles literary and visual arts from primarily student and community submissions. The annual journal is available for the community to enjoy, composed of works that represent this year’s overarching theme of “Identity.”
On March 31, SCJ hosted a virtual book exchange over the video-conferencing app, Zoom, for students to discuss their favorite written works. The meeting was moved online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a stay-home order in Washington.
The soon-to-be-released journal, according to a SCJ press release which responded to recent pandemic-related changes, will be released via a digital launch party on April 14.
Randal Houle, senior English major and editor-in-chief of SCJ, explained that releasing the publication online will cater to the stay-home order. A digital copy of the journal will be available to download in PDF form and there will be a subscription option to receive a mailed copy of the journal.
“We’re very excited about having the digital option. We’re in the process right now using sweat equity, no money at all, just building an infrastructure online so that people can download at no charge, a full copy ebook of the Salmon Creek Journal,” Houle said. “We’ve [also] committed to, and we’re about to announce this publically, to send physical printed journals to our contributors, and to as many students as we possibly can, through the mail.”
For next year, Houle said the Salmon Creek Journal is planning to have two journals, one for both fall and spring semester. He explained that the journals will be similar to a magazine format and have more artist submissions.
“We’re still going to be completely integrated with visual arts, literary arts, poetry, prose. Everything is going to be mish-mashed in there. Maybe they can use the current format, maybe they will do something completely different. Each semester could be a different product on its own,” Houle said.
The Salmon Creek Journal intends to have a greater online presence, but plan to continue the tradition of printing physical copies.
Compiling content for the journal requires students, members of the WSU Vancouver community and those in other parts of the world, to submit their own written or visual artwork. Krysten Stewart, a junior English major and prose editor for the journal, explained how the journal impacts the community, as well as her process for review.
“Something we are really focused on is promoting our campus, and giving students a venue and a platform to express themselves. So, when I am reading stories, that is something at the forefront. What stories are best to represent students?” Stewart said. “It is just like an element of truth. How does this relate to humankind?”
Houle added that the journal has made a global impact and that this year’s journal includes a poem submitted by a Russian poet, available with both an English translation and in the original Russian language.
“One of our public poets, a non WSU poet, submitted from Moscow, Russia. We have probably, I do not know how many countries [exactly], I think almost 30 writers and poets from 26 different countries other than the United States,” Houle said. “It’s really an elevation of Salmon Creek Journalism.”
By including works like this, Houle’s goal in addressing the theme of “Identity,” was to include more poetry from different languages.
“It is that we wanted to break the mold of the English-only monoculture. And express the willingness for our organization or platform to stretch and encompass more than just English-speaking work,” Houle said.
Stewart explained that the journal, as a platform, is trying to also recognize authors, artists and poets from all different literary or cultural backgrounds.
“I think everyone on the team has really pushed themselves to not only look for people representing their own identity, but what is the identity of the journal, what is the identity of this area, and incorporate that. You can also see the identity of every single person on our team in this journal,” Stewart said.
Because implications of COVID-19 changed the logistics of the journal’s normal release, Houle commented on SCJ’s commitment to persevere and still provide students with the Salmon Creek Journal.
“Salmon is the journal’s spirit animal. Salmon swim upstream against all odds,” Houle said in an SCJ press release. “We will find a way to serve the students of WSU Vancouver no matter what happens. We are here for our fellow students.”
For those who are interested in getting their hands on a copy of the Salmon Creek Journal and want to join the online launch party, a pre-registration form is available on the Salmon Creek Journal website as of April 3.
Students who want to submit their own work, or are interested in participating in future events, are encouraged to monitor the Salmon Creek Journal’s social media and website for further information.
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.