The Observer, February 16, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 17
Students spark Discussions on research
An interesting dichotomy exists at Case between the students who think there is little worth doing here, and those who find themselves quickly over-involved. Despite the numerous student organizations already in existence at Case, from Ballroom Dancing Society to USG, there's always room for one more.
Two years ago, a group of students started forming ideas for a student research journal, one that would accept submissions from undergraduates in any major, published here on Case's campus. By the spring semester of last year, Discussions, Case's first all-undergraduate research journal, was formed, and its first issue was released.
"Our goal is to foster discussion and interchange of ideas here on campus," says Heather Greenwood, a senior biomedical engineering major and the editor-in-chief of Discussions. "We are at one of the leading research universities in the country, and its undergraduate population needs a voice too."
One might think that a journal like this would deal with nothing but the sciences, but according to Greenwood, that is not the case. "Our first publication was very diverse, including articles in the Art History and Biochemistry departments, just to name a few," said Greenwood. The editorial board of the journal, made up of all undergraduates and one faculty advisor, does not discriminate between majors. They encourage all students to submit articles, regardless of topic, which reflects Case's growing population of non-engineering majors. Some students even submitted old SAGES essays for inclusion.
Another issue of Discussions is in the works for later this semester. As for what is to be contained in the issue, final decisions have not yet been made, but the batch of articles is again diverse. Sandhya Ravichandran, a senior Chemistry major and managing editor, describes the process of deciding on what will be included. "The whole editorial board gets together and splits up into two groups. We each will read the articles that have been submitted, and make our own personal comments on the paper. If one of us knows the author of an article, we will veto reviewing that individual article, so as to avoid any bias. Afterwards, all of us sit down together and we have a discussion over which articles merit inclusion."
Currently, the journal is set to publish every spring semester, but depending on the amount of submissions the board receives, a fall issue may be in the works as well, says Aditi Sinha, a sophomore editorial board member.
To submit an article for review to Discussions, or to find out more about joining the editorial board, go to the journal's website at www.case.edu/provost/source/journal. The website includes links to last year's issue, as well as guidelines for submitting an article, profiles of officer positions and the current editorial board, and pictures from the Discussions Reception held last September, honoring the students whose work was included. For any pressing questions, the editor-in-chief can be reached by e-mail at discussions@case.edu.
In addition to that, there are a few events taking place on campus to provide students with more information. There will be Resident Advisor presentations on the journal on both Northside and Southside later this semester, and a SatCo is in the works for April 14 and 15. Lastly, for those of you addicted to Facebook, there is also a Facebook group, complete with pictures.
The latest edition of Discussions is scheduled for release in late March, and it will be available both online and in print. There are plans to have issues available wherever The Observer can be found, but the editorial board also wants issues to be available in the residence halls. Greenwood sums up the goals of Discussions stating "We're trying to go the extra step this year, and make the journal the best it can be." With dedicated students like them, there's no doubt that it will be.
