A blizzard of art and written submissions flooded professor Ken Weisner’s email box before the submission deadline for De Anza College’s literary magazine Red Wheelbarrow.

This quarter, Red Wheelbarrow received over 100 submissions of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, plays and artwork from De Anza students. Students in EWRT 68 and 68X classes, taught by Weisner, bring the magazine to publication.

“I’ve been amazed by the number of poetry and fiction submissions student editors have solicited,” Weisner said. “I’ll bet that richness of choice makes for a strong magazine this year.”

About 15 students are enrolled in the two and three unit classes offered this quarter.

The literary magazine started its annual production in 1976, known as Bottomfish until it was renamed the Red Wheelbarrow after a poem by William Carlos Williams.

While editors are currently working on the student edition, the magazine also has national edition classes taught in winter and published every fall quarter.

“Each year, each editorial group has its own chemistry and gifts and variation of excellence,” Weisner said.

This spring’s edition features a multimedia DVD initiated by Kevin Eung, 23, undeclared major.

“We accept all works of performing arts including film, dance, theatre, music and slam poetry,” Eung said.
The multimedia team will accept submissions until June 5, according to Eung.

In the classes, students learn “what it’s like to be inclusive, to care about different voices, and to try to bring a community together with the book, the awards and the launch event,” Weisner said.

Student editors contribute to the magazine production by soliciting and selecting works, editing, designing and distributing the books.

“Working with and managing a team of talented editors has been wonderfully challenging,” Eung said. “Figuring out where and how to best allow them to apply their abilities is a constant endeavor, one that requires an open mind to new ideas.”

Of all the individual submissions, about 75 will make it to print. Students who have submitted their work will hear from Red Wheelbarrow by June 15, and the selected writers and artists will receive cash awards at a publication event.

“Come to our event on June 24, Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Fireside room during finals week,” Weisner said. “It’s a very diverse and exciting end-of-year showcase.”