i Work - Ashley Dean

EDITORIAL NOTE

One thing that might strike you, as you hold this literary journal in your hand, is how small it is. I am not only talking just about its size, but also its presence within the world. Billions of words are published every year, and right now you are holding some of them. But that does not make them any less important. Sure, this journal may never receive any kind of impressive recognition, but the words within it are still beautiful, profound, and often times they stir an emotion within people that surprises them. I know I was impacted by these authors, poets, and artists and the stories that they told. It took three years of working for this journal to see that impact on someone else, but it was worth it.

I joined Amendment during my first week of my freshman year at VCU. I was quieter then, I think; something life at VCU, and particularly working for this journal, will expel out of you. I timidly walked around the Student Media Center with only one thing on my mind: I wanted to join a literary journal. After mingling with other freshman (including meeting the lovely Maya White-Lurie who would later become my co-executive editor and partner in crime), I finally met David, the head of Amendment. After hearing his speech about what the journal was trying to do, I was hooked. I signed the email list and never looked back. From that day on, Amendment was in my blood.

I stayed on as an editor with Amendment for three years, and then during my senior year I took the position of lead executive editor. My first order of business as the new head was to plan and participate in the SOVO Fair. I had never been able to do the SOVO Fair before because of classes, so I had no idea what to expect. We got a lot of interest that day, but whether it was all out of serious interest or just the candy we were giving out, I will never know. But that didn’t matter. As I handed out free journals to people passing by, a girl caught sight of one and ran up to us, her eyes wide and excited. “This is Amendment!” she exclaimed.

“Yes, it is,” I responded. “Would you like a copy?”

“I already have them all,” she said, smiling at me. “I love them. This journal is amazing. It changed my life. Really. I just wanted to tell you that.”

Without another word, the girl walked away. I stood there, spellbound and still holding the Amendment that I had offered to her. The journal suddenly felt a lot bigger in my hands.

As executive editor, there are so many people to thank for making this journal a success. First of all, Maya. Of course. She joined Amendment with me on the first day and I couldn’t have done this without her helping me. She was always there to pick up slack where I couldn’t grab it. She is an amazing friend and an amazing writer. Keep this journal, people. When she gets famous, you’ll want it.

A huge thank you goes out to our wonderful staff for coming to meetings, reading pages and pages of submissions, and for always stepping up when we need some woman/man-power. A special shout out to Brittney Maddox for her help all through this past year. She will actually be taking over as the new executive editor, so keep an eye out for her. Another shout out to Kathleen Brien, who did the cover art for this little book you are holding. She has been with Amendment for so long and has always brightened up meetings with her provocative doodles.

A final thank you goes out to our support team. Without you, we would have fallen. Thank you to Greg Weatherford, our wonderful advisor; Lauren Katchuk, our master of dollars; Mark Jeffries and Raquela Hamman, our genius designers. Also thank you to the brilliant Craig Zirpolo for creating Progressions, the new chapbook baby of Amendment and The Horn RVA. Thank you to our previous executive editors who have passed the torch from the past: David Osnoe, Mari Pack, Lashelle Johnson, and Greg Alexander. And a huge thanks to Liz Canfield, the original creator and mother of Amendment.

And a final thank you to our readers. May this little book grow bigger as you read it.

Kaylin Kaupish Chief Executive Editor