Students in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) at Syracuse University have ample opportunity to strengthen their writing through a rich landscape of publications and digital platforms. Aurantium, Broadly Textual, Intertext and Mend are among the outlets where students build strong portfolios, sharpen their professional communication skills and engage in experiential learning that prepares them for careers in writing, publishing, media and advocacy. Learn more about each publication through the students who lead them.

Aurantium: Making Philosophy Accessible and Alive

Like its namesake, Aurantium (the Latin word for orange) is vibrant, inviting and full of fresh perspective. Founded in 2023, this student-led undergraduate philosophy journal was created to invite curiosity, creativity and conversation across disciplines. Supported by the Department of Philosophy and the Philosophy Club, the journal publishes two issues each year: one focused on the Syracuse University and SUNY ESF community and another open to contributors worldwide.

Essays, reflections, creative writing and artwork all find a home in Aurantium, making it a space where philosophy is explored not as an abstract exercise, but as a living, interdisciplinary practice.

For editor-in-chief Brielle Brzytwa ’28, discovering philosophy was anything but immediate. “In high school it felt abstract, inaccessible and frustratingly stuffy,” she recalls. It wasn’t until college that philosophy began to feel meaningful, and that transformation shaped her vision for Aurantium. “Philosophy doesn’t have to be confined to dense texts or exclusive academic spaces,” she says. “It can—and should—invite curiosity and conversation.”

As editor-in-chief, Brzytwa has made accessibility a guiding principle. She describes the journal as a place where ideas are not only preserved but “shared, challenged and reimagined,” with an emphasis on amplifying a range of undergraduate voices. That mission has also given her a powerful sense of belonging. Initially unsure how her interests in ethics, legal rhetoric and creative expression might coexist, she found purpose in shaping Aurantium’s intellectual and creative direction. “Instead of searching for where I fit, I now feel that I am actively creating that space—for myself and for others,” she explains.

Editing the journal has sharpened Brzytwa’s skills as a communicator and collaborator. She emphasizes that editing is not about correction alone, but about “elevating and preserving the integrity of a writer’s perspective.” As she looks toward a future in the creative industry, she credits Aurantium with helping her build confidence and gain clarity, demonstrating how philosophy, writing and creativity can meaningfully inform one another.

Broadly Textual: Building Community Through Public Scholarship

For graduate students eager to share their ideas beyond the boundaries of academic journals, Broadly Textual offers an inviting and meaningful platform. Overseen by William P. Tolley Distinguished Teaching Professor Harvey Teres, the online publication highlights graduate student work designed for public audiences, featuring literary and cultural commentary, videographic criticism, and thoughtful explorations of digital media and identity. With its focus on a broad variety of subject matter, the publication encourages students to see scholarship as both collaborative and accessible.

Co-editor Elena Selthun first encountered Broadly Textual as a contributor during their first year of graduate study and quickly recognized its value. They describe the experience as “low-pressure and supportive,” an ideal introduction to publishing. Equally important, Selthun was drawn to the publication’s commitment to public humanities. “The public-facing nature of the blog allows graduate students to apply what we learn beyond academia,” they say. “Being able to translate academic jargon into more accessible language is a skill we should all develop, and Broadly Textual gives us the space to practice that.”

For fellow co-editor Meg Healy, the appeal initially lay in skill-building and community engagement. Over time, she gained a deeper appreciation for the publication’s role in demystifying the publishing process. “There is a strong incentive to publish while in graduate school, but that can be daunting,” Healy notes. “Broadly Textual gives students a chance to experience publishing on a smaller scale, in a lower-stakes environment, while still sharing their work with a real audience.”

Both editors emphasize the sense of connection the publication fosters. Selthun points out that graduate research can often feel siloed, and Broadly Textual helps bring students across departments into conversation. Healy echoes that sentiment, highlighting the opportunity to remain engaged with a broader graduate community. Together, they see Broadly Textual as a space where students grow not only as writers and editors, but also as communicators committed to sharing knowledge with purpose and care.

Intertext: Celebrating Writing Across WRT Courses

For more than three decades, Intertext has celebrated writing by undergraduate students in the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition (WRT), and community partners. In April 2026, editors and contributors gathered to mark the release of the journal’s 34th volume.

Reflecting on their involvement, editors Jules Vinarub and Kairo Rushing wrote in the introduction to the 2026 issue, “This publication relies on the willingness of Syracuse University students to be vulnerable enough to let their truth be on display—sharing themselves with you, allowing you to hear and see their stories. We are so fortunate to be able to study what we love and what inspires us on a daily basis—especially at a time like this, at a school that provides us with a variety of opportunities. We are completely captivated and incredibly grateful to [the authors].”

Throughout the year, students met with publishing professionals and authors like Rand Timmerman, member of the Veterans’ Writing Group at Syracuse University, whose essay about a U.S. Marine’s tense and surreal Christmas Eve spent on night watch in Vietnam is published in the 2026 issue along with a video interview.

At the launch celebration, three awards were presented to authors featured in the 2026 issue. The Louise Wetherbee Phelps Awards were given to Caleigh Weintraub for “Through His Hands” and Clara Kelley for “The Extinction of Fireflies.” The Margaret Himley Award for Critical Encounters through Writing was awarded to Nehru Madan for “Through the Lens of Fire: Photography and Resistance.”

Any student who has taken a WRT course can submit their work to Intertext, and submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Students interested in joining the editorial team can enroll in WRT 340: Advanced Editing Studio. For more information, contact Professor Patrick W. Berry.

Mend: Amplifying Voices, Honoring Stories and Creating Purpose

Mend is an annual publication that was started by Patrick W. Berry, WRT associate professor, and is dedicated to celebrating the lives and creative work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, as well as individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. Featuring fiction, poetry and nonfiction on a wide range of topics, the publication offers contributors the freedom to explore personal experience while centering dignity, creativity and voice.

Editor Drew Murphy ’26, who is majoring in writing and rhetoric, and psychology in A&S, first encountered Mend as a junior through an Engaged Humanities course, WRT 413: Rhetoric and Ethics after Prison, taught by Berry. Guest visits from formerly incarcerated writers involved with Mend left a lasting impression.

“Their stories represented a powerful intersection of my two majors, writing and rhetoric and psychology,” Murphy says, describing the experience as one that immediately sparked curiosity on both personal and professional levels. When Murphy learned about internship opportunities with Project Mend, the decision felt natural. “The opportunity to work with impacted individuals while contributing to a publication that shares their stories has been meaningful for both my academic studies and future career ambitions,” she explains.

Murphy notes that joining Mend also deepened her feeling of belonging at Syracuse University. “Through this experience, I have found a strong sense of purpose in contributing to a project that amplifies important voices and stories,” Murphy says. “It has connected me with a community of like-minded people and helped me see how my skills can make a real impact.”

Working on Mend marked her first opportunity to write and edit for a public audience, sharpening her awareness of audience, ethics and voice. “Seeing how others edit taught me to approach it more carefully, always maintaining the writer’s voice and the piece’s integrity,” she reflects. As Murphy prepares for graduate study in social work, she credits Mend with deepening her belief that thoughtful writing can contribute to meaningful change.