Dear Wright College Community,
The purpose of the Great Books Symposium Journal is to provide a platform for community college students to publish and share their analyses of great literature. These are the words that come to my mind when I reflect on the progress of the journal: hard work, diversity, and legacy.
The journal is the result of countless, and often unseen, hours of hard work, dedication, and diligence.
When you read the research papers, I want you to think of the students who produced such excellent, high-quality works. This year, the Great Books Symposium Journal recognizes six students. Their manuscripts offer a taste of dystopia, provide insights into the mind of Shakespeare’s tragedian, Hamlet, and allow us to explore the concept of metatheatre. These works showcase thoughtful examinations of timeless literature, and I urge you to read them all.
In addition to our student contributors, I want to recognize those who are often working behind-the-scenes but are still significant members of the journal: the editorial board, faculty editorial board, Director of IT, Anthony Gamboa, and the faculty advisor and editor, Dr. Michael Petersen. I would also like to take a moment to thank President David Potash and Vice President James Howley for supporting and encouraging the growth of the Symposium journal.
This year, the committee reached out not only to students and faculty at Wright College but also those who reside outside of Chicago. Faculty members from Oakton Community College, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Austin (TX) Community College, and University of California San Diego have read and constructed critiques for research papers produced by students.
The power of literature lies, truly, in the ability to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds. The journal is a reflection of our goal to strive for diversity and inclusion.
When I speak of legacy, I think of friends who have graduated from Wright College—those who are succeeding at a four-year institution because they have been a part of the Great Books culture at Wright.
Edgar Esparza, who was a student editor and a contributor for the 2017 edition of the journal, is currently attending Columbia University in New York. He told me, “There is a lot of reading and work here at Columbia that I think I would be less prepared for if I didn’t take courses that were a part of the Great Books curriculum. Also, I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to publish my work in the Symposium journal. I connect with individuals at Columbia University through my Great Books experiences at Wright College.”
The journal is a legacy of great ideas and a gift that keeps great literature alive. Let us share this gift with the greater community and the world.
Thank you. Xie Xie.
Amanda Jiang
Spring 2018 Editor-in-Chief, The Great Books Symposium Journal