Foreword from the Editors (Fall 2020)
November 30, 2020
Dear Friends of MORIA,
I am Sarah Elizabeth Clark, current Editor-in-Chief of MORIA, Woodbury University’s undergraduate-run, online, national magazine for professional writers. Today I’m excited to announce the publication of Issue Six! I have been fortunate enough to be on the MORIA team for both Spring and Fall of 2020, and I will never forget the experiences I have had, especially under our unique circumstances and challenges.
While this year has brought so many unforeseen events, I hope you all enjoy Issue Six and find solace in the very fitting theme, “It’s the End of the World As We Know It.” As we began to read through our submissions, it became evident that the pandemic, isolation, and social changes were on everyone’s minds. Right now, we are fighting for change while also having to make peace with the difficult circumstances affecting every part of our life. This was reflected through the themes of this issue: focusing on the details of daily life; coping with loss; questioning philosophies; challenging a poisoned society; negotiating familial relationships; and hoping for the future. As a result, the MORIA team has produced an issue juxtaposing the current hardships we are all living through with the faith that change is coming.
A continued emphasis of MORIA is our commitment to include voices from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Diversity is a cornerstone of our magazine, and I am pleased that we have upheld that ideal once more. This issue, our acceptance rate was at 18%, which has us publishing 51 pieces. Out of those acceptances, we are happy to announce that 65% were women and 31% are authors of color, giving a platform for those who didn’t have one for far too long. Our authors for Issue Six are a variety of ages as well, with some being in their teens, and our oldest contributor being 97, giving our issue representation from multiple viewpoints.
On behalf of the MORIA staff, I want to acknowledge those who have made Issue Six possible. Although the past few months held great adversity for all, it did not deter anyone from continuing to go above and beyond for our magazine. We will always be appreciative for the authors, both returning and those new to the MORIA family, who have taken the time to write such impressive work that comprises this issue of our magazine. Even in the midst of such turmoil, they created lasting words for our publication. We would also like to acknowledge the outstanding faculty at Woodbury University, who have helped MORIA grow since the beginning. Particularly, we would like to thank Randy Stauffer, Sr. Vice President of Woodbury University, for his generous support; Dr. Reuben Ellis, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, for his unending enthusiasm; Dr. Matthew Bridgewater, Chair of the Writing Department, for his continuous encouragement; and Elizabeth Cooper and Rachel Farnsworth, for all their administrative work that makes our events possible. Above all, on behalf of the student editors of MORIA, we would like to thank Dr. Linda Dove, Faculty Editor and beloved professor, for the guidance and time she has given to us all in order to produce such a quality literary magazine. Each of us has ended this semester with far greater skills than how we began. I would also like to personally give the utmost thanks to the rest of my staff, and I highly value the time we have spent together as a team.
Even though so much has changed this year and isolation has been necessary, I find that more than ever, people have made an effort to try to stay connected. In the words of our program manager, Devon Ward, who was inspired by our cover image, “There’s never not community. Never not creative energy. Never not so much good shit. Despite the end of a world.”
Best wishes,
Sarah Elizabeth Clark, Editor-in-Chief
for the Editors of MORIA Literary Magazine