Follow

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 28, The Last Torch, 2020

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  In September, we did not know that this edition of The Promethean would truly be the last. Riding the wave of Blue Apocalypse, our editors sat in front of each other composing a pool of possible themes. We wanted a title that captured the loss of the College of Arts & Sciences at Concordia University – Portland.

  We were still present, learning, and generating beautiful work, despite mourning a gaping wound. We wanted to remind those around us—and even ourselves—that the literary heart of this university still burned with passion, talent, and perseverance.

  When I suggested The Last Torch to our staff, the titular myth of this journal played through my mind. Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gifted it to mortals, seeing mankind’s weakened, vulnerable state. It was a gift, requiring sacrifice, and resulting in great reward and great punishment.

  I did not know that this title would become entirely ironic.

  As we continue to experience disruption and uncertainty moving forward, I counsel us all to remember this: fire may devastate and destroy, but it can also be used to light the way. May we use our talents to similarly break down social barriers and uplift, leading this fractious community out of darkness and towards a better future.

  On behalf of Dr. Kimberly Knutsen, my Assistant Managing Editor J.C.G., our team of student editors, and all of our valued contributors, I am blessed to present to you the 2019-2020 issue of The Promethean: The Last Torch.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 27, Blue Apocalypse, 2019

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  Like any other, this past year was full of many hard lessons that were difficult to swallow. It's easy to feel like the world is falling apart sometimes, or worse, that you're alone in the devastation. However, remember that when it feels like the end of the world, you will find sanctuary in your community, your loved ones, your passions, and in yourself.

  It is my greatest hope that you also will find sanctuary throughout these pages, a collection of our voices coming together to create something beautiful.

  This issue is dedicated to the College of Arts & Sciences. In times of struggle, I would like to reiterate some of the most important lessons I've learned in these classes:

  • Think critically, but do not underestimate the power of a gut feeling.
  • Do not be happy with the wrong answer because it is the easiest.
  • Never leave a question blank. Go for partial credit.
  • Listen actively to others, because diversity is what empowers discourse.
  • Remember to cite your sources.

  On behalf of Dr. Kimberly Knutsen, my Assistant Managing Editor, Julia Guzman, our team of student editors, and all of our talented contributors, I am honored to present to you the 2018-2019 issue of The Promethean: Blue Apocalypse.

  -- Sydney Rose Quintana, Managing Editor

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 26, Planet Nowhere, 2018

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  The first week of the semester, our editing staff sat down and tried to come up with a theme for this journal that would encapsulate the Concordia community, with all its beauty, flaws, and in-betweens.

  To us, Planet Nowhere means the feeling of hopelessness and the intimidation of the unknown. But it also means endless possibilities and the beauty of the expanse before us. No matter how lost we may be, we can find our way home.

  We wanted to build a sense of community within our pages, where people were free to share their dreams, fears, triumphs and losses… and the in-betweens. This journal was a labor of love. It has been a messy, beautiful road to turn an idea into a very real literary journal, and I am so thankful to be a part of it.

  On behalf of Dr. Kimberly Knutsen, my Co-Managing Editor Julia Guzman, our wonderful staff of student editors, and our talented contributors, I am honored to present to you the 2017-2018 issue of The Promethean: Planet Nowhere.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 25, The Velvet Night, 2017

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  In these divisive times, we are at the precipice of greatness. Instead of subduing our voices or using them to antagonize others, we write. We type madly and scribble hurriedly. We communicate boldly and kindly. And, when we’re done, and really proud of it, we publish a literary journal.

  If America is going to heal, let it be glorious. And what’s more glorious than writing?

  On behalf of Dr. Kimberly Knutsen and Sonja Baumeister, the assistant managing editor, Amber Bains, the student editors and contributors, and myself, I present this year’s issue of The Promethean: The Velvet Night.

  Kathryn Willoughby, Managing Editor

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 24, Bluebird Whiskey, 2016

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  The short stories, poems, and photographs featured in the journal come from a variety of talented individuals, and I thank every contributor and staff member of The Promethean for making Bluebird Whiskey possible.

  On behalf of the diligent Dr. Kim Knutsen and Sonja Baumeister, the student editors and contributors, and myself, I present this year’s issue of the The Promethean: Bluebird Whiskey.

  Haley Bucher, Managing Editor

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 23, Cats in Zanzibar, 2015

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  With every new generation it is important to look back and learn from those that have come before us, but it is also essential to redefine the new era on a personal level. Henry David Thoreau, venerated author and philosopher, concluded his novel Walden with the line, "It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar." Thoreau's sentiment was that a change of soul or purpose is more important than a change of scenery.

  I speak for myself as well as a lot of other late-teen and twenty-something when I say that the change in scenery is more than a want, it is a call to our souls to see and experience distant places. That is why, "It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar?" took on a lot of meaning this year as it evolved to become something that was uniquely our own.

  For us, it is really a question of the worth of a dream. In the context of curing diseases, traveling to Indonisia or Guam seems like a petty pursuit but, if we can gather those experiences and knowledge and use those to inspire us to put good and light into the world, is that not just as worthy of a pursuit?

  What follows are the pieces and experiences of my life and the other authors' lives that we hope to inspire others with. We hope to not only be relatable but also to share some of our understanding with people that we might not ever meet.

  Through the tireless efforts of Dr. Kim Knutsen and the other student editors of The Promethean, I am proud to present to you Cats in Zanzibar.

  Raeann Bauer, Managing Editor

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 22, Deeper Roots, 2014

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  Every year, the staff of The Promethean strives to compile a magazine that tells the story of a greater group of writers. Though all are different, they write about a greater Truth.

  This year, we decided to inspire the writers by taking a quote from an American legend, Dolly Parton.

  "Storms make trees take deeper roots."

  Pain and sorrow are among the stronger of emotions and a great equalizer among all people. Though sorrow makes for mournful works, it is through the hardships and pain that we are better able to experience the goodness that the world has to offer.

  When considering pieces to be published in The Promethean, the editors always consider the audience of our publication. We always strive to find pieces that give voice to those that might be struggling with the same issues or those that might have thought they were isolated in their struggles. I believe that we have more than succeeded in this.

  Through the bravery of all of our writers and the determination of both Holly Goodrich, Dr. Kim Knutsen and the editors of The Promethean, I am proud to present to you Deeper Roots.

  Raeann Bauer, Managing Editor

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 21, Rust and Stardust, 2013

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  Calvin:"If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently."
  Hobbes:"How so?"
  Calvin:"Well, when you look into infinity, you realize that there are more important things than what people do all day."

  --Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

  This year The Promethean staff wanted a theme that would inspire people to look up at the stars and feel the power of the universe. After four weeks of discussion we decided that Rust and Stardust would bring a variety of submissions inspired by the infinite creativity the universe lends us. To our delight, this proved true, and we are very pleased with the journal this year.

  The Promethean seeks to encourage a variety of entries from all sorts of people, and that is exactly what we got. We received many delightful pieces from a variety of writers, ranging from English majors, to Biology and Psychology majors, to incredibly talented community members. Here you will find the ones that made the cut. These are the poems, stories, and photos that inspired discussion, and at times, left us speechless.

  The creation of this journal takes a dedicated group of people. This could not have been done without all of our student editors, faculty, staff support, and of course, all of our magnificent contributors.

  This issue is near and dear to my heart as this is my final year at Concordia. My three years on the staff, one as Managing Editor, have deeply inspired me, increased my love of literature, and given me a sense of belonging. I will greatly miss being a part of the staff that composes the annual medley of Concordia's creative community. Therefore, it is with deep satisfaction that I, and The Promethean staff, present this year's Rust and Stardust issue to you.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 20, Bring on the Buzzards, 2012

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  Every year, the staff of The Promethean has the same goals. We want to create a bold journal full of quality literature and artwork. We want to push the limits of both our contributors and our readers. We want to create a memorable journal that Concordia University-Portland can be proud of.

  This year, we decided to accomplish these goals by going back to our roots. We decided that we would use the story of Prometheus, our journal's namesake, as our inspiration. Prometheus was a god who saw that humans needed fire to survive. Against the will of the other gods, he shared fire with humanity. As punishment, he was chained to a rock and had to endure having his liver eaten by buzzards. Each day his liver grew back; each night the buzzards returned. We, like Prometheus, would have the courage to give the people what they needed - powerful, honest literature - and utter a shout of "Bring on the Buzzards!" to any naysayers who tried to stop us.

  It has become tradition for The Promethean to have an annual writing contest. For our theme this year, we again stuck with the Prometheus legend. We chose "Spark" and told students that they could do with that what they would. We also continued the trend of the last few years by adding a challenge: writers could use only 500 words to craft their contest entry. This limit required writers to choose their words carefully, and work hard to craft a complete scene in a short amount of space. We were not disappointed. We received many submissions to our contest, all of which were well crafted.

  We chose as our judge Concordia and Promethean alumnus Vanessa Wendland. All of the submissions Vanessa received were written with serious thought and intention behind them. The top three submissions received cash prizes as well as publication in this year's journal. Three honorable mentions are also published in the journal. The contest winning stories are labeled as such, and the top three have a short paragraph from our judge, explaining the merit she found in the work.

  As managing editor and a senior at Concordia, this edition of The Promethean holds a special place in my heart. I have been on the staff for four years and have seen many pieces come to our editors. This year we received more submissions from a larger variety of students than in previous years. Many of these pieces speak directly to either our journal or contest theme. The fact that we are reaching out to more students, inspiring them not only to write, but to have the courage to submit their writing gives the editor part of me great joy. For those who say that technology is killing literature, I invite them to read our journal, or any collection of writing from today's generation, and take hope that the fire of literature is still burning bright.

  I want to thank my staff for being so amazing, especially with the onslaught of last minute submissions. The fact we were able to continue having in-depth discussions under such time constraints makes me proud to be a Concordia student. This year, a large portion of the writing center staff served as editors, which led to a focus on making each piece the best it could be. This journal also wouldn't be what it is without our wonderful advisor, Dr. Kim Knutsen or the support of the other faculty and staff at Concordia.

  With that, I present to you the 2011/2012 edition of The Promethean: Bring on the Buzzards.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 19, Number 02, Forbidden, Spring 2011

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  This year, The Promethean Staff wanted to encourage a large variety of entries. We wanted to get all sorts of submissions from all sorts of people. We didn't want to limit anyone. We also could not decide on a theme. So, we, the group of indecisive English majors, did what no literary journal staff has ever done before. That statement may or may not be true, but we did something pretty rare. We chose two themes. We decided we would have a double book, with two covers. One theme would be Wonderlings, the other Forbidden. The book would be able to be read from either direction. Of course it wouldn't be too hard to do, no problem. Ha.

  Despite some of the unforeseen difficulties of doing a "double book," our original goal was achieved. We received many wonderful pieces from a variety of people. Here, in this collection, are the ones that made the cut. These are the poems that made us laugh, the photos that left us in awe, and the stories that caused us to regain hope in the future of writing.

  We spent the year arguing about form, nitpicking comma placement, and hunting down people for copyedits and biographies. But we made it, and we are here, still standing strong, ready to present to you this year's edition of The Promethean.

  This journal is a group effort. This could not have been done without all of our student editors, faculty and staff supporters, and of course, all of our wonderful contributors. Thank you everyone, for helping us make a journal full of exceptional work that we all can enjoy.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 18, Do I Dare Disturb the Universe, 2010

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  The vision for The Promethean this year was a journal not afraid to be bold. Not afraid to disturb this universe that we perceive and expose reality. Leading the editorial staff this year as Managing Editor was not easy. My predecessors set the expectations high and have set a precedent of continual improvement; this seemed a little daunting.

  As with every project of this caliber there were complications alongside wonderful submissions and miscommunications that accompanied deep conversation. I consider myself lucky when I look at my editing team. As a staff we are passionate about many styles of writing, about not only the finished product but the process every writer goes through and the impact writing has on those who read it.

  As a staff we encourage all writers, whether a senior English major or a sophomore Business major, to submit their best work to The Promethean. This collection, we believe, showcases some of the best writers Concordia Pordand has to offer this year.

  This could never have been done by any individual and many people deserve sincere thanks. Many thanks go out to the editorial staff, contributors, and all those behind the scenes who made this journal possible, to all those who have allowed their writing to disturb just a little bit of the universe. On behalf of all those who have worked so diligently I present to you the 2009-2010 edition of The Promethean: Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 19, Number 01, Wonderlings, Fall 2010

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  This year, The Promethean Staff wanted to encourage a large variety of entries. We wanted to get all sorts of submissions from all sorts of people. We didn't want to limit anyone. We also could not decide on a theme. So, we, the group of indecisive English majors, did what no literary journal staff has ever done before. That statement may or may not be true, but we did something pretty rare. We chose two themes. We decided we would have a double book, with two covers. One theme would be Wonderlings, the other Forbidden. The book would be able to be read from either direction. Of course it wouldn't be too hard to do, no problem. Ha.

  Despite some of the unforeseen difficulties of doing a "double book," our original goal was achieved. We received many wonderful pieces from a variety of people. Here, in this collection, are the ones that made the cut. These are the poems that made us laugh, the photos that left us in awe, and the stories that caused us to regain hope in the future of writing.

  We spent the year arguing about form, nitpicking comma placement, and hunting down people for copyedits and biographies. But we made it, and we are here, still standing strong, ready to present to you this year's edition of The Promethean.

  This journal is a group effort. This could not have been done without all of our student editors, faculty and staff supporters, and of course, all of our wonderful contributors. Thank you everyone, for helping us make a journal full of exceptional work that we all can enjoy.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 17, Contents May Be Hot, 2009

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  During our first meeting, I let the staff know my expectations for the 2008-2009 Promethean edition. Like previous years, I imagined fresh, bold writing and raw talent. With the same inspiration, I imagined a bolder journal; a journal with power and authenticity; a journal that would forever be memorable for the quality, quantity and impression. The Promethean staff grounded these ideas, while the contributors shaped them. I've never felt prouder of The Promethean. Graduating and leaving the position to Kristine never scared me; I knew we had the same visions, and I give all the credit to her.

  -Jess Bouchard, Managing Editor Fall Semester

  Working on The Promethean this spring has been one of the most difficult experiences of my college career, but, like so many 'diffucult' things, it has also been the most rewarding. As Managing Editor I have seen the process through from all angles: working as a member of the submissions team, copyediting and all the procedures involved with pre-press. I know this complication inside and out. The words are by now familar; the emotion and movement behind each piece has touched me deeply. For my final semester at Concordia I could ask for no greater privilege than to be so intimately involved with this caliber of publication.

  This 2008-2009 Promethean is unique. It is a continuation of Jess' and my vision for the edition: the works inside are bold, captivating, exciting, and raw. As The Promethean has grown in popularity it's quality has increased accordingly. This is no solitary work, and credit truly goes out to Jess, the editorial staff, and all contributers whose work truly made the contents "hot." It is on their behalf that I present to you the 2008-2009 edition of The Promethean: Contents May Be Hot

  -Kristine Pugsley, Managing Editor Spring Semester

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 16, Revelation, 2008

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations.
  --Revelation 22:2

  Minor things can become moments of great revelation when encountered for the first time.
  --Margot Fonteyn

  This year, The Promethean staff wanted a bold theme to complement last year's theme of Genesis. After much consideration, we felt Revelation would bring in a variety of submissions exploring the nature of endings and epiphanies. To our delight, this proved true, and we could not be more pleased with the journal this year.

  The Promethean has seen great changes and growth over time; the 2007-2008 academic year has been no different. The fall and spring semesters brought in a plethora of new artists, fresh writing, and vivid photography. Submissions came from as far away as the East Coast and from as close as the Concordia community.

  This issue has also been bittersweet for me personally. It is with reluctance and regret that I leave Concordia and The Promethean after graduation; three years on the staff, two of those as Managing Editor, have given me a sense of deep satisfaction, pride, and belonging. I will dearly miss the staff and working with them to compose an annual mosaic of Concordia's creative community. Therefore, it is with extreme pride that I and The Promethean staff present this year's Revelation issue to you.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 15, Genesis, 2007

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
  --Genesis 1:1,3

  Passion is the genesis of genius.
  --Anthony Robbins

  In this issue, we explore the nature of beginnings. Our theme, Genesis, has brought in a broad range of submissions, from poetry reflecting on our Biblical roots to memoirs detailing first experiences at college. We asked the Concordia community to submit poems, nonfiction, artwork, photography, and short fiction that embraced our theme, but did not limit our acceptance only to work that was inspired by beginnings. What we found, however, is that almost anything can qualify as a beginning. Even an ending is a precursor to something new, something inspiring.

  The Promethean has grown significantly in the past two years. This is very exciting for us and we hope the trend will continue. Our expanding staff helps to add diversity and knowledge to the review process.

  We are extremely pleased with this year's issue and are proud to present it to you. We hope that The Promethean provides you with inspiration to continue on in struggle and in joy, knowing that others share the same human emotions, drives, and challenges. The Promethean is the voice of Concordia on an individual plane, and we will continue to welcome quality submissions that explore the broad range of humanity on personal, political, spiritual, and social levels.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 14, Transformations, 2006

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  The way of the creative works through change and transformation, so that each thing receives its true nature and destiny and comes into permanent accord with the Great Harmony: this is what furthers and what perseveres. -Alexander Pope

  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good, and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

  This year we honor our namesake, Prometheus, known in Greek mythology as the patron of human civilization. When presented with the task of filling the earth with inhabitants, Prometheus carefully created mankind in the form of the gods. When his creations were left uncovered, freezing in the cold, Prometheus, feeling sorry for them, stole fire from the gods and brought it to humanity in a stalk of fennel plant. In the 2005-2006 special issue, we metaphorically celebrate the gift of Prometheus by recognizing the transformative power of creativity. In this spirit, we have chosen poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, art and photography that broadly explore the power and possibility of change. The work in this issue is inspired or informed by the observation and experience of many kinds of transformations—personal and political, emotional and intellectual, secular and spiritual. It is with great pride that we present to you our "fire" in the 2005-2006 issue of The Promethean. We hope that these creative endeavors inspire you with the same passion they did us.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 13, Number 02, Spring/Summer 2005

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  For this Spring 2005 issue of The Promethean, I have had the honor of being Student Editor. It has been both challenging and fun reviewing the literary work of my peers and having the privilege of working with them to create this unique issue. Through the course of this semester, while working on The Promethean staff, I have recognized the meaning of integrity in literature.

  Concordia University is a Lutheran school that works hard to uphold and demonstrate Christian values. While some of the material printed in this issue may not directly reflect the views or mission statement of the University, we at The Promethean have made a distinct effort to recognize Concordia's diverse community, resurrected in the work printed in the following pages.

  I would like to thank the College of Theology, Arts and Sciences for supporting this publication so faithfully, and Student Government for its generous funding and interest in keeping this work circulating and alive. I would also like to thank Aaron Snyder, Student Editor, who did an exemplary job of screening and editing the writing that was submitted, and worked very hard to release this unique edition of The Promethean. I would also like to thank all of the students and faculty that contributed their writing and art, and giving all of us the opportunity to learn from their perspectives. It has been our goal through this issue to offer our readers new angles on the human condition through the expression of the vast spectrum of the widely different personalities that constitute the glue that holds together the Concordia community.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 12, Number 02, Winter 2004

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  Welcome to the Fall/Winter 2003-04 issue of The Promethean. We are pleased to feature essays, poems, and artwork contributed by members of the Concordia University community during the fall semester. This is our most substantial issue to date and we are pleased with the breadth of perspective and genre that is represented. This issue features the three entries in our annual fall themed-essay forum: "Is the World a Safer Place?" The writers that participated, printed here, offer thoughtful reflections on our responses to September 11 and the war on tenorism.

  Also in this issue local poet David Biespiel reflects on the process of reading new writing and shares his decisions for our annual contest for best student work submitted during the 2002-03 year. This is the second year we have invited a local writer of prominence to review the student writing contained in the year's two issues and select what he or she believes represents the best work. Our intention in enlisting a local writer, rather than student judges, is two-fold. First, asking an outside and professional writer gives the contest editorial integrity. Second, student writers are given the opportunity to have their work read and noticed by a member of the local literary community, potentially opening doors for future publication.

  This issue, like previous issues, will be distributed at places like Kennedy School, The Dahlia Cafe, and other restaurants and galleries in the Concordia and Alberta neighborhoods. If you have a connection with a local outlet-restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and galleries are often willing to distribute free reading material-please let us know. And if you enjoy the writers you read within, let them know; there's no better way to encourage the literary arts at Concordia.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 13, Number 01, Fall/Winter 2004

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  How do we decide what kind of material to print in the Promethean? It seems like that ought to be a simple question to answer, even one with an obvious answer: the best writing from the students, staff, and faculty of Concordia University. But, in fact, it's a question and a conflict that while it has frustrated some students and Promethean staffers, has ultimately vitalized our sense of purpose and energized the conversation about the role and shape of the literary arts at a Christian university. And so, since last spring, we have been wrestling with questions of what kind of art not only best represents the Christian ethos of our community, but also challenges and even complicates our understanding of the human experience, in all its dimensions.

  To that end, we have proposed a vision statement that attempts to speak to potential writers and readers about what they can expect to find within these pages:

  The Promethean is the journal of literary arts of Concordia University. We welcome contributions of poetry, short fiction, essays, and black and white art of the highest quality that affirm the diversity of our community, embrace our spiritual legacies, and challenge the creative spirits of our readers.

  Does this mean we intend to print only writing that somehow speaks directly, in a specifically affirming way, to and about the Christian experience? No. A literary magazine is neither a daily devotional nor a forum exclusively for witness and proselytizing. We imagine that some of the writing within will speak from writers' faith walks and some of it will not. Does it mean that we will print writing that, in its language, subject matter, or detail, will sometimes challenge readers? Yes. Affirming the human experience, in all its diverse forms, and acknowledging the struggle and conflict individuals face in their lives requires truthfulness and courage in its representation — and sometimes that truthfulness manifests itself in a bluntness of language and grittiness of detail that will challenge some readers.

  Does it mean there is some writing, though of a certain quality, that will not find a home in the Promethean? Probably so. Crass nihilism, sensationalized sexuality, or writing that is antithetical to the affirmation of faith, is by definition, often flawed literarily, and so, though perhaps appealing to some, ultimately does not merit inclusion.

  Those ofus who have been involved in this conversation hold the literary tradition in the highest esteem and to the highest standard. Like Prometheus, we too want to bring light and truth to our community. There is no greater gift to that cause than your participation, as readers and writers.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 11, Number 02, Spring/Summer 2003

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 12, Number 01, Fall 2003

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 10, Spring/Summer 2002

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  Welcome to the Spring/Summer 2002 issue of The Promethean. In addition to thoughtful work by the poets and fiction writers of the Concordia University community, we also feature the winners of our second annual Best Freshman Essay contest. Judged by Professor of Education, Dr. Jan Albrecht, this contest showcases work written by students for their English 121 classes.

  With this issue, we also announce the terms of our annual prize in creative writing. Each year we will ask a distinguished writer from the community to read the contributions to the Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer issues of the journal and make a first and second place selection from among the fiction and poetry entries. There are no requirements that the reader pick one of each, simply that he or she choose the two entries that best demonstrate literary excellence.

  This year poet and writer Kim Stafford, who also directs the Northwest Writing Institute, will evaluate the works in the two published issues and announce his selection in the Fall/Winter 2003 issue. We are grateful to our two contest judges for their expertise and support of the literary arts at Concordia University.

  We hope you enjoy our contribution to summer reading!

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 11, Number 01, Fall/Winter 2002

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

  This issue of the Promethean marks several changes in the journal's look and mission. In keeping with the convention of many literary journals, we have moved to a half-page format and standardized our layout so that the focus is on the written words our contributors have shared. The decision to feature artwork only on the cover was difficult, and we hope that our planned website will provide students with an opportunity to share their talents on-line. We are also featuring, in this issue and in forthcoming fall/winter issues, the winners of our themed essay contest. This fall the contest asked writers to respond to the events of September 11. Our judge, Dr. Herbert Hoefer, read the entrants, selected a first and second place winner and shared his perspectives on the contributions. We are grateful for his expertise as reader and appreciate deeply his commitment to literary excellence at Concordia.

  Our mission, however, has remained largely the same but with an eye toward expanding the journal's readership beyond the campus community. We see our role as the journal of literary arts at Concordia University, Portland. As such we seek to publish the best in serious poetry, fiction, and essays from members of the Concordia community, including students, staff, faculty, and alumni. The journal will also largely remain a student created text, with student editors playing a large role in decisions about content and production.

  We hope these changes will benefit the readers and writers for the Promethean, and we welcome suggestions and contributions to the journal.

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 09, Number 02, Spring 2001

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland

• 

  The Promethean, Volume 08, Number 02, Spring 2000

  English Department, Concordia University-Portland