Dear readers,
This is my second and unfortunately final semester as editor for Allegorical Athena, and I will forever cherish my time in this position. I am incredibly proud of this spring’s body of work, the Campus Culture issue. Allegorical Athena’s existence has always served as a space for Colgate’s many literary voices; every AA edition is a record of campus culture, every piece a portrayal of what occupies our minds, fuels our anxieties and angers, and calms our assiduous hearts. This spring, you will read work which touches on myriad important, pressing issues, but two consistent themes arose: the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, and the exploration and expression of gender and the body. These two topics are directly tied to current events; it seems this year, every day, the situation in Gaza and beyond worsens, and, globally, governments implement an increasing number of draconian policies restricting the lives of transgender and gender non-conforming people. This is why we chose campus culture as our theme; we wanted to provide a space for students to express their grief, reflection, rage, gratitude, and rebellious joy, in this crucial moment of global history. All art is inherently political and considers the culture it was created in, whether consciously or subconsciously. One artist takes an op-ed that attacked the queer community and turns it into a poem. Another indicts the student body’s inaction in the face of an unjust war–an important charge given the context of the active illegalization of protest at universities like Columbia and beyond. I feel so honored and excited to help build such a rich edition of Allegorical Athena with our team of writers, artists, faculty, and interns, and to contribute to Colgate’s literary and cultural legacy. Thank you so much for reading! We wouldn’t be here without your help in this decades-long project. I may be relinquishing my position come May 19th, but I hope you all will continue reading Allegorical Athena throughout the years. I know I will!
And a special thanks and congratulations to our two contest winners: Jose Arriaza, for his essay On Campus Culture, and Jordan Smith, for her collage Pain in Love and Womanhood. The Allegorical Athena team was especially moved and impressed by these works, and we’re so proud to award them accordingly. Thank you Jordan and Jose, and thank you so much to all who submitted!
Sincerely, Max
