Common Ground Anthology cover image
Common Ground is a UBC Okanagan anthology that was launched this past April, and was edited and published by graduate students. As the title suggests, Common Ground explores the subject of place, it refers to what we all share: the natural world around us and the people and the stories that make us who we are.
Masters student, Kelly Mitton from the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies was the one that came up with the idea to produce this magazine. Kelly knew of another student anthology that had been done at UBCO a few years ago, and she was impressed by the community-building that happened around its creation and at its launch event. She wanted to do something similar, but on a broader scale that would involve people from the entire campus.
Kelly enlisted other students to come on board to help with the organizing and editing of the anthology. The editorial team consists of Kelly Mitton (MA-IGS), Kelly Shepherd (MFA), Sarah Jacknife (BA Indigenous Studies), and Cameron Welch (The Phoenix Newspaper).
The first edition of the anthology received over 80 submissions from undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty members. The contributions came from various faculties and departments at UBCO including Creative Writing, Sciences, Nursing, Business, Performance, and so on.
“The launch night itself was really fun and amazing; it was rewarding to see so many people there.” Says editor Kelly Shepherd. The launch had live music and poetry readings and was held on campus at The Well.
“It was great to meet the people I met, and especially to work closely with peers who I would not have worked with otherwise.” Notes Shepherd.
The graduate students will be finishing their program this year, but they hope that based on the success of this project, that stude
nts in future years carry on this idea.
The anthologies were for sale at the launch event for $20 each, which went to offset the costs of printing with the profits donated to the UBCO Student Food Bank. Copies of the anthology can be purchased from the editorial team by contacting common.ground.ubco@gmail.com.