Upbeat trend in newest edition of Touchstones

UVSC released a volume full of red wagons, teen angst and accidental feces. The eleventh edition of UVSC’s Touchstones is a literary journal comprising compositions from around campus.
Published by the English Department, Touchstones has become a creative zenith for many of UVSC’s English majors.

In the past, Touchstones has tended towards the inclusion of the gloomy and melancholy. This year, however, the journal has taken a different tone, according to Amber Watson, editor in chief for the publication.

“This year has really light themes; a lot of past issues have contained dark themes like suicide, depression and dark humor. This year we have generally taken an upbeat feeling,” said Watson.

Clint Edwards, an English major and contributor to the project, eagerly anticipates the release of this project. Edwards is also the coordinator for the Touchstones release party, My Word, which is scheduled for 7 p.m., April 8 at the Center Stage.

Edwards said he decided to be an English major so that, one day, he can be homeless. “What better of a life: You get a tan and pictures taken with celebrities. And one day I am going to travel to Africa and be homeless there in the hopes of meeting Bono.”

Edwards is quite proud of his work in Touchstones this year, and not afraid of its revealing nature, explaining that he doesn’t “have a lot of shame.”

His work entitled “The Tightly Drawn Noose” recounts a disquietingly true event that marred Edwards’ freshman year in High School.

“It’s a compelling piece of teen angst and accidental feces. It is an autobiographical piece. In other words, I pooped myself my freshman year in High School,” said Edwards.

Touchstones also contains the artwork of graphic design student Jamie Bigney. The cover design began as a mid-term sophomore project for Bigney. “It was created out of frustration with not wanting to be stuck with a boundary. I built off the doodles and built off the design,” said Bigney.

Thaddaeus Broderick, an English major, contributed his submission entitled “Radio Flyer” to the effort.

“I didn’t mean to write it. It was accidental,” said Broderick. “Radio flyer has been rewritten every time I read it; maybe now that it is final and in print, it might stay the same.”

Touchstones is scheduled for release at the My Word event on campus. With the promise of poetry, short stories and food, the contributors are excited to see their works published.