Sandscript unveiling Sept. 2

By Miki Jennings

Students, family and friends are invited to attend an unveiling ceremony for the 2010 edition of SandScript, Pima Community College’s award-winning literary arts magazine, to listen to short stories and poems and view artwork produced by contributors.

The event, to be held Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Recital Hall on West Campus, celebrates the release of the newest edition of SandScript and commemorates 20 years of successful publication.

“With this 20th anniversary edition, the staff and I are presenting a stunning example of the creative arts talent that exists at Pima Community College today and for the past 20 years,” Editor Susan Collinet said.

The event will also mark a change in faculty advisers. Writing instructor Tom Speer will step down after 14 years as faculty adviser, and give the reins to fellow writing instructor Joshua Cochran for 2011.

“It’s going to be Dr. Speer’s last time heading the magazine. He’s been the adviser for a long time and he’s really helpful,” said student Debbie Hadley, who served as assistant editor of SandScript last spring and is the current news editor for Aztec Press.

Hadley said both Speer and Collinet “had a lot of good ideas and helped us to know what we were doing.”

Speer said he arranged to step down from his faculty adviser position before he retired from teaching altogether so that he could provide support and help Cochran settle in as the new SandScript adviser.

“I think he’ll be more experimental,” Speer said. “I expect it will take on a different look with Josh. I’ve always wanted each issue of SandScript to be different, so I encourage that, and I think Josh will go in the same direction. I look forward to seeing what he and the group come up with.”

Cochran said he has “big shoes to fill” as faculty adviser.

“Tom has been doing this so long and he really deserves some recognition for what he’s done,” Cochran said. “I’m terrified, frankly, taking it over because he’s done such a great job.”

The unveiling includes a slideshow of visual art and readings by contributors, which allows students to enjoy the gratification of being in the spotlight, Cochran said.

“It’s just a really warm atmosphere where students get some of their first tastes of success,” he said. “Publishing their poetry, seeing their artwork printed in a book and getting that kind of recognition is really amazing. Their families come. It’s beautiful.”

SandScript accepts submissions throughout the year, with one deadline per semester. Students who will only attend either the fall or spring semester must submit their work during the semester for which they are enrolled.

While the literary magazine class is located at West Campus, students who attend classes on any Pima campus are welcome to submit work. The deadline for fall submissions is Dec. 19.

For further information about SandScript, contact Speer at 206-6851.