As
Copper Nickel enters its sixth year and releases its 11 th issue, the literary journal published by students and faculty at the University of Colorado Denver shows no signs of stopping regardless of rough circumstances in recent times.
The debut of the 2009 issue at the annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference in Chicago yielded 30 new subscriptions and the sale of 60 single issues. Additionally, student editor and senior, Anisetta Valdez, who was fortunate enough to attend the conference, had what faculty editor, Jake Adam York, described as an "epiphany when she realized she was a part of this professional community and broader community."
The students who founded
Copper Nickel in 2003 wanted a name that would speak to Denver's history and a name that would suggest the worth -- however strange -- of a literary enterprise. They started playing with names that could evoke Denver's history of mining as well as its distinction as a site for a national mint. One student observed that a nickel isn't made just of nickel, but that if a nickel were made entirely of copper, it would be worth more. So "Copper Nickel" means something of value that is unconventional and that is worth more than you might think.
Following a series of unfortunate events, such as losing its printer and hard costs increasing over 60 percent from last year, the
Copper Nickel includes four student debuts in the 11 th issue.
York comments, "It's hard for readers to tell the difference between student writer and professional writer. Our student writers aren't just good writers; they are good writers that can play on the national scene." Truly, this very distinctive journal which is comprised of staff of undergraduates gets to participate in the literary community on a national scope.
The Denver debut of
Copper Nickel's 11 th issue will take place Friday, March 13, at The Lab at Belmar in Lakewood, beginning at 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit:
http://www.copper-nickel.org/ or
http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/clas/news/?p=68.