Sophia Gets Back on Her Feet
Due to a decrease in staff members, Sophia’s publication rate has dropped in recent years. Editor-in-chief Keaton Cluff explains why students should be interested in joining staff and why their help is vital to the success of the journal.
Sophia is Utah Valley University’s journal dedicated to philosophical literary criticism. Historically, the journal has published a new edition every semester. Over the past few years, the publication rate has slowed down. The Review spoke with editor-in-chief Keaton Cluff to discuss why the journal may have lost some steam and his plans for kicking it back into motion.
Cluff revealed that although Sophia had a dedicated editorial staff, many of them graduated at the same time. “There may have been a misstep in handing the journal down to the newer members,” he stated. Cluff’s biggest goal as editor-in-chief is rebuilding the foundation of passionate and experienced staff members so the journal can continue to thrive even after he is gone.
Previous experience is not required to join the staff of Sophia. As Cluff said, “It is a specialized journal because the papers we publish can be dense and may be challenging for a student not akin to philosophical ideas.” However, they appreciate the help of anyone willing to read these long papers and give feedback. They are particularly interested in recruiting freshmen and sophomore students who can train and stay on staff for a longer time.
Joining the staff of a journal like Sophia is a great way to gain knowledge and experience in writing and editing. Working on Sophia is also a way for students interested in philosophy to gain a variety of new perspectives on the subject. Graduate schools and job opportunities will be impressed to see involvement in a journal on a resume.
Joining the?staff at a lower level also increases one’s chances of obtaining a leadership position. Cluff spoke on the ways his position as editor-in-chief has positively impacted him. “My involvement with the journal has made me a better writer and has taught me to be more receptive to feedback. It has also taught me a lot about communication, as I have had to communicate edits to the authors and stay connected with my faculty advisor and staff.”
Along with staff members, Sophia is also looking for contributors. Philosophy is a broad topic, and they are flexible about the?genre and content of submissions if there are philosophical undertones. Being on the author-end of the editing process also teaches students a lot about writing and looks great on resumes. Plus, as Cluff pointed out, “It feels good to get your paper published, as only a percentage of submissions get selected.”
Undergraduate journals are important opportunities for students to gain editing experience and build community. They are also outlets for student authors to get their work published, something that is difficult to achieve anywhere else. Without a dedicated staff of students, these journals could not stay afloat. And with so many different journals on campus, some do not get the attention they deserve. Cluff testified to this, claiming, “I just wish more people knew about Sophia.”
Help Sophia get back on its feet by reaching out to [email protected] or [email protected] to inquire about joining staff or to submit a paper. They are glad to gain new staff members at any point in the semester. They are currently working hard to finalize their upcoming edition, but their next deadline for submissions is May 16, 2025.
Braxtyn Birrell is a senior at Utah Valley University earning her Bachelor’s in Writing Studies. She is currently serving as a Beat Reporter for the Review. In previous semesters, she has served as Editor-in-Chief for Touchstones Literary Magazine and Lead Student Editor for the Journal of Student Leadership. Her areas of expertise include the arts and humanities, specifically literature.