Direction Magazine featured in June at Pierce

Tracy Hernandez/Roundup

For more than 50 years, Pierce College has produced a student-run magazine.

Direction Magazine, which offers numerous opportunities for students to have their works published, has been composing poems, short stories and photography since 1959.

Maria Bates, professor of English for seven years, teaches the English 32 class, which is the course that automatically puts students on staff.

“I think it’s getting more elaborate,” said Bates.  “We get about 2,000 submissions and only 25 to 40 works get selected.”

There are standards for the poems and stories to be published.

“We call people when they score high and if they meet the standards,” said Bates.  “But [if they] lack on something we try to help them.”

Stories need to be well written and have proper grammar.  Poems need to consist of imagery, rhymes, schemes, etc.

“We also publish [in] different languages,” said Bates.  “We look for quality work, original [work] and all kinds of  representation.” 

This semester, the magazine had enough money to create a DVD for students.

Some of the contents of the DVD contain works from students who dance or have created films.

This class meets every Monday in the English building , room 1206 or in the Computer Lab.  

The students also take several field trips throughout the semester and visit places like printing houses.

The trips allow them opportunities to network and seek sponsorship.

Eva Murray, liberal studies major, is the Art Editor for the magazine.

“We have three different sections,” said Murray, 25.  “We have publicity, editing, and art.”

They get a lot of their funding from the Associated Students Organization (ASO).

In addition to the ASO, the students organize bake sales and open mic nights to raise awareness to the magazine and earn additional funding.

“This magazine comes out at the end of the semester in June and is available in the Student Store for $5,” said Rebecca Rabitory, 21-year-old English major and editor.  “But get it soon, because it sells quickly.”

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