Campus literary magazine derecognized

The literary and art magazine Queen's Head and Artichoke was derecognized last week by the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) because of what it called "undue overlap" with other publications.

Although it was only founded in about 1990, Queen's Head was Tufts' oldest literary publication and the magazine had a $10,000 annual budget. But during the 2001-2002 academic year, Queen's Head had fewer staff and suffered from internal problems, according to former editorial board member Dan Barry, a senior. The most recent issue was published in the fall of 2001.

Queen's Head first experienced problems with recognition earlier this year when members sought re-recognition for the magazine, as is standard for all TCU-sponsored organizations. Members were told by the TCUJ that since a year had passed since the magazine's last publication, it would have to essentially apply for recognition as a new organization.

But when the magazine applied for recognition as a new organization -- which would have provided it with a reduced budget of $1,000 -- it was denied recognition by the TCUJ. A successful appeal allowed the publication to operate under temporary recognition, which then expired on Feb. 27.

Queen's Head will now receive no funding from the TCU. But the staff of the magazine is determined to put out an issue this semester "even if it means using a photocopy machine and pumping in dimes," said Barry.

The publication also plans to appeal the decision made by the TCUJ to the Committee on Student Life (CSL), according to Meena Jagannath, the magazine's executive editor.

In the meantime, she said, members are considering several different ways to adapt the publication. Barry said the publication must "clear up the distinction between Queen's Head and Artichoke and the other literary magazines on campus."

One option would be to publish the magazine annually, to avoid detracting from the other literary publications.

Funding through art grants and outside sources is also being considered.

Queen's Head will also seek support from the editors of Optimus Prime and Outbreath. Although there has been some talk of a possible merger of the magazines, it appears that all three publications are more interested in remaining independent.

"I think it's good to have as many outlets for art and literature as possible," said Allison Luhr, the managing editor of Outbreath. She also said Queen's Head may be the best known of the campus' literary magazines. "If someone were to ask 'what is the literary magazine on campus?' people would say Queen's Head."

The relationship between Luhr's publication and Queen's Head has not always been so friendly. In 1999, Queen's Head and Artichoke filed a complaint with the TCUJ protesting the presence of artwork in Outbreath because it overlapped with the content of Queen's Head. After appealing the case to the CSL, Outbreath eventually prevailed.

Today, the concerns surrounding overlap seemed to exist only within the TCUJ, according to Jagannath, who said there is "not really a fear of the other magazines, as far as I know, that we would step on their toes."

Jagannath said that lack of support from the TCUJ might be due to financial concerns, but that "the funding argument is secondary."

"In appealing the issue we need to address overlap," she said.

Barry also pointed out that Outbreath or OptimusPrime also had problems gaining recognition until they appealed to the CSL.

A substantial number of students were said to have expressed interest at the Queen's Head recruitment meeting at the beginning of the year, and seniors planned to recruit many new members to help resurrect the magazine.

A sweeping number of submissions coincided with the expiration of Queen's Head's temporary recognition on Feb 27. According to Barry, the magazine received between 60 and 70 poems, 11 prose compositions, and about 40 pieces of artwork.