By Nicky Taylor
At the head of Prism, William Peace University’s literary magazine, Julianna Moreland is an English major with a talent for leadership.
Prism itself is a collection of creativity in all forms, representing the creative scene on WPU’s campus.
The art submitted in this magazine comprises poetry, visual art, short stories, and photography.
This magazine accepted submissions until Mar. 3, and afterward, the Prism staff worked to edit and design the magazine.
On April 23, Prism magazine was available to own at the annual WPU Showcase.
Moreland’s role is crucial to the magazine’s development, demonstrating her drive and vision.
As the editor-in-chief, she helps keep staff members on task while keeping each member on a task they enjoy by dividing everyone into teams that best suit their skills: the editing and design teams.
The editing team is responsible for curating submissions, drafting written responses between the staff and artists, and meeting with artists to make any submission changes, such as grammar or formatting mistakes.
The design team, on the other hand, creates graphics for advertising Prism, organizes the magazine’s direct layout, and designs a visual draft for the cover.
A designer for Prism, Emmarose Boylan, has been working with Moreland and the Prism staff since 2022.
“The designing and making of [Prism] has been a blast,” says Boylan. “Task-wise, I help with designing the page spreads, making additional artwork to pair with stories, and [to] help design covers.”Oftentimes, Moreland hops between these two teams, assisting any staff member with questions or concerns.
Moreland’s time at Prism is part of a campus custom, emphasizing her dedication to creating an energetic and inclusive community through the arts.“Juli is a very driven person who has the attitude to make any idea into reality even if she doesn’t have all of the words to describe it at the time,” says Boylan.
Prism represents inclusivity through its collections from every type of artist on the Peace campus.
With an appreciation for creativity and a passion for working together, Moreland takes each aspect of creation very seriously.
“Design… makes me feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be,” says Moreland.Creating Prism magazine is a collaborative effort that reflects the various types of work submitted each year.
“This year, we have a really fun staff,” says Moreland, “people can … look forward to something really big.”
Alongside this, Moreland is also the driving force behind the Creative Club.
This initiative aims to create a welcoming space for the university’s creatives to converge, share ideas, and enrich the campus’s creative culture.
Through her efforts, Moreland bolsters the university’s tradition of celebrating the arts and ensuring that all students’ voices are heard and appreciated.
As an English major at Peace, Moreland has transformed her passion for literature and the arts into a campus presence.Initially, Moreland was unsure if Peace was the right school for her. However, her love for beauty and its place in the arts is what solidified her spot as a Pacer.
“Yes, it was a beautiful campus,” says Moreland. “It made me want to paint it.”
After her first semester, Moreland began to lean into her creative side and joined in on any endeavors that caught her eye.
“I gravitated towards anything that could be creative or English-related. I just wanted to be a part of it,” says Moreland, “I didn’t want to miss out on anything.”
This attraction to the arts at Peace led Moreland to her current position as editor-in-chief for Prism magazine.
Established in the mid-1900s, Prism Literary Magazine is a platform for students to exhibit their literary and artistic talents.
Historically, Prism has consisted of various themes and celebrated the talents of Pacers with enthusiasm. For the 2024 issue, submissions are freely accepted, regardless of theme.When searching for inspiration, however, the Prism staff has chosen a subtle theme of coming of age.
With the loosely enforced theme of coming of age, students are encouraged to submit art exploring childhood and the feelings associated with growth.
Visually, Prism is taking a vibrant turn this year, focusing on modern color schemes.
“We’re looking at bold colors and looking to play with typefaces and their motion,” says Moreland.
The magazine had faced a dip in contributions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a call for more voices to join its pages.
Prism’s staff, however, is enjoying the tight-knit environment that comes with creating the magazine and encourages students to join in.
“Being a part of the staff is a very fun experience, especially if you’re into design work or writing,” says Boylan. “The product you make can be enjoyed by hundreds at Showcase and could potentially be used as a portfolio piece.
Moreland invites students to share their personal projects at Peace, whether in Prism or in their own personal way.
“Any kind of writing, any kind of illustrating, anything you’re passionate about, we’re passionate about,” says Moreland.
They presented the Prism magazine on Apr. 23 at the 19th annual Showcase.
“If you allow yourself to just sit for one second … and think about how you create something, you’re opening yourself up to this therapeutic form of expression,” says Moreland, “I really want people to know that Prism is a place for that. It’s a place for you.”