Student magazines prepare for publication

Three student-run media magazines at SRU are preparing to publish their final issues. Sound and Literary Arts Book (SLAB) and RockScissorsPaper publish art and artistic writing, while The Roxy focuses on film analysis and criticism.

Each publication has a relatively small staff. The Roxy and SLAB publish booklet-length issues once a year, and RockScissorsPaper publishes material online as it happens. The first two also have websites where their articles are published.

Jack Dolinger, editor of The Roxy, said they collect material from campuses across the state to include in every issue along with local submissions.

“We review those submissions, and if they’re insightful into the film in any way, we release them with their number,” Dolinger said.

Members of each magazine review the submissions, then choose which ones to edit and include. SLAB’s Zoe Brown talked about the process.

“It also gives you good exposure to everything out there, the good and the bad,” Brown said. “Generally, you definitely get a better view of your own work [on] a more global scale. And it also helps you become a better writer.

SLAB is an internationally renowned magazine that has existed at SRU since 2006. They attend a Writers Association and writing programs (AWP) to showcase their work.

“This past [conference], we got used shirts from Goodwill and the Salvation Army,” Brown said. “We had little patches made and sewn them onto the shirts to have a funky product.”

Although the S in SLAB stands for sound, they no longer have an audio component. RockScissorsPaper, however, launched a podcast last April. Two episodes have been uploaded to Spotify. Alyssa Fallavollitti, president of the publication, discussed their plans for the future.

“We have one or two submissions that we will review at our next meeting,” says Fallavolletti. “After that, hopefully we can spread the word so we can get more student submissions.”

RockScissorsPaper members meet every other Tuesday to discuss related activities and review potential material. They branch out into alumni outreach, including submissions from graduate students as well as undergraduate students.

Members of the three magazines will participate in a publication launch party at the end of October. The Roxy is working on a horror-themed short film that will be screened during the event.

Dolinger, Brown and Fallavollitti all listed numerous acquired skills in their respective magazines. These include leadership, editing, and publishing experience, as well as organizational and Adobe Suite skills. Dolinger recommends joining if you’re interested in professional writing, regardless of your level of experience.

“If you have no experience with [editing or InDesign], it doesn’t mean you’re not qualified,” Dolinger said. “Staff members and advisors are there to help you gain experience that you could use in the professional world.