The Oz is Occidental’s student-run art and literary magazine. The publication receives submissions from the student body and provides an outlet for writing outside of class curriculum, according to the two editor-in-chiefs Hanna Lou Rathouz (sophomore) and Eran Karmon (sophomore).
“We really wanted a space on campus [for] student creative writing,” Rathouz said.
The Oz publishes a fall and spring issue, each available in digital and print format, according to Rathouz. Rathouz said that each issue has a different theme, which serves as an optional prompt for writers and artists.
“This semester’s theme is Adrift. Last semester’s theme was Intertwined,” Rathouz said. “If you want to write for the magazine, you can use [the theme] as inspiration.”
Rathouz said that The Oz welcomes submissions via a Google Form from the student body and publishes most pieces.
“We receive basically anything — we take poetry, creative writing [and] creative nonfiction,” Rathouz said. “Last semester we had someone submit a film script.”
The Oz club member Averylin Cummins (sophomore) said they submitted a poem to The Oz last semester, and have been involved in copy editing for the club. According to Cummins, writing pieces are mostly published as submitted, and a team of copy editors help in the creation of the magazine as a whole.
“Everyone who chooses to edit for The Oz gets a number of pieces that have been submitted that we then copy edit for grammar and spelling — we don’t change people’s pieces [or] writing at all,” Cummins said. “We really want to make it purely by Oxy students for Oxy students.”
According to Rathouz, The Oz also hosts writing and editing workshops for the club. Karmon said that workshops help Occidental writers collaborate and develop their work.
“The process of writing a poem or story yourself doesn’t have to be alone — that’s kind of what we aim to do with the workshops,” Karmon said. “It’s your piece and you have total creative control over it — but if you want guidance or [want] to discuss it with someone or to spitball ideas, then you can.”
According to Rathouz, while there are a few creative writing courses, Occidental doesn’t offer a creative writing major. Karmon said The Oz seeks to provide a forum for writers to build a sense of community.
“A lot of the time with people who do write, [writing] can feel like a solitary [activity],” Karmon said. “With The Oz, our goal is to help people realize that others are writing too. The goal is to get people encouraged with writing and passionate about sharing their [work].”
According to Cummins, there are many skilled writers at Occidental who often pursue writing individually. Cummins said that The Oz has helped them find like-minded students on campus who share an appreciation for poetry.
“I think there’s a really brilliant literary community at Oxy, but I feel like I never hear about it,” Cummins said. “[The Oz] has been a great way for me to find other writers and people to talk to.”
The Oz plans to expand its influence and increase campus engagement in the future, Rathouz said. The magazine hopes to host more events for the Occidental community, according to Rathouz.
“We want to do more workshops and bigger events where, even if you didn’t submit to the lit mag, you can come and bring writing,” Rathouz said.
Rathouz said that The Oz helped coordinate the English department’s recent writing creative competition, which closed submissions March 21. According to Rathouz, they’re planning an event with the English department for the campus community.
“We want to do a combined celebration party with the English department where you can get food and get a copy of the lit mag and there’s an open mic,” Rathouz said. “We were also planning for the celebration to be when we announce the winners of the creative writing competition.”
According to professor Ross Lerner, faculty advisor of The Oz and chair of the English department, the English department helps support students involved in the magazine. Lerner said that The Oz helps students learn to be their own editors.
“The Oz is very much student-run,” Lerner said via email. “Through generous donations, the English department has funding for creative writing activities on campus, and so we help coordinate with the editors of The Oz to get print issues paid for. Occasionally, we also help with getting access to space on campus for events. But again, the real work — organizing, outreach, writing, editing, community-building — is all done by students.”
According to Lerner, the team of students involved in The Oz frequently meets in the English department’s conference room. Lerner said that he’s seen the room become a canvas of collaboration and creation.
“After The Oz has a meeting, the room bears the marks of their vibrancy and creativity: extensive to-do lists on the whiteboard that could almost be confused for Whitmanian poems, illustrated with genuine wit and energy,” Lerner said via email. “They are building something wonderful together.”
Submissions for the Spring 2024 issue of The Oz close Monday, April 1, according to Karmon. Karmon said he encourages people to submit their writing to the magazine.
“It’s going to be another glossy issue — a real magazine,” Karmon said.
Rathouz said that she hopes to establish the magazine as a staple publication for readers and writers on campus. According to Rathouz, The Oz aims to foster the practice and publication of writing beyond standard class assignments.
“I think ultimately, The Oz is creating a foundation of love for writing,” Rathouz said.
Contact Julian Villa at jvilla@oxy.edu
