For 18th Year, TU's ‘Grub Street’ Earns National Accolades

Press release from Towson University:

By Rebecca Kirkman on April 5, 2021

The award-winning cover design of Towson University literary magazine “Grub Street.”
(Photo courtesy of William Hartman ’20)

TU literary and arts magazine “Grub Street” has earned its 18th consecutive award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association
(CSPA) for volume 69, which was produced remotely during the pandemic.

An international student press association created in 1925 and operated by Columbia
University, the CSPA’s annual competitions honor excellence in student publishing.

The magazine’s 2021 recognition includes a Gold Crown Award for the publication overall and 11 individual Gold Circle Awards for student work within the publication.

“Grub Street” is one of two Gold Crown Award winners in the print literary magazine
category. It is one of 16 collegiate publications to earn gold recognition out of
852 from across the country. Gold Crown Award entries are judged on their excellence
in design, photography, concept, coverage and writing.

“Grub Street” volume 69 was released in spring 2020. Nine TU students and one Dulaney
High School student were recognized for their contributions to the publication in
categories ranging from poetry and experimental fiction to illustration and design.

Taryn Painter ’22

Begun in 1952, “Grub Street” is run by undergraduate students enrolled in “Editing
the Literary Magazine,” taught by English assistant professor Jeannie Vanasco. It is funded by the Office of the Provost.

“Anyone can submit to ‘Grub Street.’ For volume 69, the staff combed through more
than a thousand poems, essays, stories and artworks,” Vanasco says. “All identifying
information from the submissions had been removed. It just so happened that some of
the best work was by TU students, which didn’t surprise me. Every semester, I’m impressed
by how talented and creative our students are.”

Taryn Painter ’22, an Honors College student majoring in history and political science with a minor in human rights and history, was awarded second place in the traditional fiction category for “A Day on Race Street.”

“The story that I published in ‘Grub Street’ was my first publication and the first
time I decided to share my writings publicly,” says Painter, who wrote the piece for
an Honors College writing course with lecturer Benjamin Warner.

“Having a literary magazine on campus is so important because it encourages creativity
from all departments across campus,” she adds. “Even people like me, who have little
overlap with the English or arts departments, can become published writers. ‘Grub
Street’ offered me a platform. My story is based on my emotions navigating identity
and belonging, and it felt great knowing that there was an outlet for me to share
my life experiences.”

William Hartman ’20

Working with classmates to publish volume 69 remotely gave art + design major William Hartman ’20 experience he has brought with him into his professional
career as a designer and illustrator.

“This was my first time seriously diving into design for publication,” says Hartman,
who was awarded first place in the cover design category with Deandra Lee, whose illustration
“Loop” graced the issue’s cover.

“From its conception to printing, I have grown and learned so much with the craft.
To this day it is the largest project I have worked on, and it challenged me and pushed
my limits at times. Having a lot of creative control made it a fun time, and I will
always look back on it as such a positive experience.”

Hartman says “Grub Street” offers TU students a safe, creative outlet and brings the
community together through the arts.

“I’m sure anyone who picks up the magazine will be able to find a poem, story, photograph
or painting that they love or identify with,” he says. “That alone makes it special
and very much worthwhile.”

“Grub Street” Gold Circle Award Winners

• Briseyda Barrientos-Ariza, “Storms in Ice Cages,” third place, free-form poetry
• Liza Dennis, second place, portfolio illustration
• Deandra Lee and William Hartman, “Loop,” first place, cover design
• Deandra Lee, “Loop,” honorable mention, single illustration (computer generated)
• Taryn Painter, “A Day on Race Street,” second place, traditional fiction
• Angela Qian of Dulaney High School, “Tabletops,” second place, free-form poetry
• Yehudis Rabinowitz, “Race,” third place, experimental fiction and third place, alternative
  story form
• Bridget Roddy, “Hypebae,” first place, single illustration (computer generated)
• Makenzie Sisson, “List of Symptoms of Something I Cannot Name that I Have Taped to
  My Fridge,” first place, alternative story form
• Ashley Wagner, “Second Fiddle,” first place, free-form poetry

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.