In a quiet De Anza College classroom, students sift through poems, short stories and plays, looking for the best in student literature.

The students are editors of “Red Wheelbarrow,” De Anza’s own literary magazine, which gives students a chance to see their work published in each spring edition.

The magazine, now under the guidance of professors Randolph Splitter and Ken Weisner, was founded in 1976 under the name “Bottomfish.”

Originally established as a club, the magazine grew into a for-credit class, and in 2000 was re-christened “Red Wheelbarrow” after the William Carlos Williams poem.

Two editions of the magazine are published each year. This spring, the deadline for submissions from De Anza students is May 23.

Students aren’t limited to written works — “Red Wheelbarrow” also accepts prints of students’ artwork.

In the fall and winter, students evaluate submissions from all over the country and around the world for a national edition.

Professor Randolph Splitter, who taught the “Red Wheelbarrow” class in the fall and winter, said the Red Wheelbarrow’s student staff and writers produce an award-worthy magazine twice a year.

“Many of the people that we’ve published write to tell us how impressed they are with the high quality of the writing and magazine design,” he said.

To help publish both editions of the magazine Splitter said the DASB has given the magazine an extra $575.00 this year.

This money will help cover what Splitter said are the actual bare-bones cost of publishing the magazine, including proofs and shipping.

Aside from its usefulness as an outlet for the work of De Anza’s writers and artists, Splitter said that the magazine provides valuable training to the students who choose the contributions and produce the magazine.

James Schulte has been a “Red Wheelbarrow” student editor for over a year. He said it has been a great experience.

“You get to see good writing and bad writing and realize what the difference is,” he said.

In recent years the national edition has interviewed renowned Bay Area writers such as Chitra Divakaruni and James D. Houston.

This year, “Red Wheelbarrow’s” interview with Khaled Hosseini, best-selling author of The Kite Runner, will be published in the national edition.

Last year, students interviewed award-winning feminist poet and essayist Adrienne Rich.

Roshini Josesph has been a managing editor for “Red Wheelbarrow” for over a year. She said she is very proud to be part of the class and the magazine.

“Every year our student edition wins several awards at the League of Innovation,” Roshini said.

Professor Ken Weisner, the current advisor of the student edition, said “Red Wheelbarrow” has had a lasting effect on many of its students and writers.

Weisner said many students who have been involved with the magazine have gone on to careers in writing or have pursued advanced degrees in English or Creative Writing as a result of their experience.

Weisner is enthusiastic about the upcoming edition.

“The student edition is a spring affair. Each spring, we load the ‘Wheelbarrow’ with red-hot compost. It’s a tasty garden in June,” he said.

Interested writers can e-mail submissions to Weisner at [email protected]. Though it is too late to join the course this quarter, the “Red Wheelbarrow” class, EWRT 65, meets every Wednesday from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

The spring issue will debut at a public reading at the end of the spring quarter, where $250 in prizes will be awarded to literary contest winners. All “Red Wheelbarrow” submissions chosen to be published are sent to an independent contest judge.

For more information on “Red Wheelbarrow,” visit the magazine at http://www.deanza.edu/redwheelbarrow or e-mail Randolph Splitter at [email protected] or Ken Weisner at [email protected].