For the second year in a row, the editors of Intertext have succeeded in creating the year’s issue of the publication in the midst of a pandemic. “During such a difficult semester,” write editors Ashley Clemens, Kyle McDonald, and Ariel Samuel in the issue’s introduction, “we are all looking for connections, and hopefully Intertext offers some resonance.” The 2021 issue, which features the work of undergraduate students from the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition, is now available in print form and online.

Coming from a broad range of majors, the editors of this year’s issue are Aminata Ceesay, Ashley Clemens, Lydia Engel, Benjamin Goldsmith, Drew Harper, Chloe Hechter, Cameron Macaulay, Kyle McDonald, Jeanette Orlando, Ariel Samuel, Mira Sickinger, and Bonnie Yu.

Patrick W. Berry, chair and associate professor of writing and rhetoric, says, “I am so impressed by the work of the editors as they reimagined magazine production in a pandemic.” Berry, who spent many years working in magazine publishing, recognizes the value of collaboration and teamwork, especially in this context. “The students’ commitment to building community with each other and our featured authors was essential to the issue’s success,” he says.

This semester’s editors shared some of the challenges and successes of their work in the issue’s introduction. They acknowledged that this year has been characterized by a number of losses and struggles, but they also see something special in their work and in the pieces that are included in the publication.

“Despite the stress and anxiety, students are still able to find joy in the small things,” write Clemens, McDonald, and Samuel. “We want that to define our generation. We have marched through resistance, proved our resilience, and are still able to recognize the beauty in the small moments.”

Intertext features work from students in writing courses. Congratulations to the winners of the Louise Wetherbee Phelps Awards, named for Phelps, the founding director of the writing program. The 2021 winners of the award are “Starve to Death” by Rosalyn Impink and “The Best Player in Town” by Collin Helwig.

This is the inaugural year of the Margaret Himley Award for Critical Encounters through Writing, which recognizes academic excellence and a commitment to improving the world, addressing urgent and important issues, forging connections across differences, and inspiring social action. The 2021 winner is “Sex Education in the Statehouse” by Madeline Caruso.

The issue also includes writings by Ibraheem Abdi, Christian Abdo, Nidaa Aljabbarin, Lily Biagi, David Harvey, Guiv Lederer, Alexandra Manziano, Alison Pelkonen, Shelby Rodger, Andrew Parker Schiffer, and Alesandra “Sasha” Temerte.

Artist work in the issue include Dalia Emilia, Hanzhang Lai, Julianna Markus, and Kristina Starowitz, whose work is part of exhibit at the SU Art Museum until May 23.

The virtual Intertext Launch party will take place on Friday, May 14, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., via Zoom and is open to the public. For a link to the event and other updates about Intertext, visit their Instagram page or email pwberry@syr.edu.

This semester’s Intertext editors found that, in addition to offering knowledge about publication processes, the course also provides a sense of community in an unprecedented time of loneliness. WRT 340: Advanced Editing Studio (Intertext) will be offered again in Fall 2021. For more information, contact Professor Patrick W. Berry at pwberry@syr.edu.