(Photo provided by: Bob Sykora)

JCCC is publishing Mind’s Eye, an annual student-run literary journal and arts magazine that gives students on campus the opportunity to share their work and connect with readers. The journal features original poetry, fiction and artwork submitted by students only for the Mind’s Eye.

“There are thousands of literary journals across the country. Almost every college is going to have something like this,” Associate Professor and Faculty Advisor for The Mind’s Eye, Bob Sykora, said. “But this is a literary journal that is exclusively for students at our school.”

A group of student judges compiled the journal throughout the Fall 2025 semester by reviewing submissions and selecting pieces for publication.

“There was a student-run group of judges. This year, we had six to eight students. [Then] we went into winter break, where they have this reading period and judging process,” Sykora said. “They were reading their peers’ work and voting on what they liked best. Then we came together early this semester to discuss which ones we wanted to feature in the journal.”

Students with different artistic backgrounds contributed to the publication, reflecting a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

Student Ellie Fowks had two art pieces selected for publication. She said the journal allowed her to share her work.

“It’s hard to figure out where you stand with art and if you are doing a good job, and so getting that outward affirmation really boosts my confidence,” Fowks said. “You don’t always feel like you know what you’re doing, but then when you see your stuff published in a magazine, it’s really exciting.”

Ecotone and Treehouse are the two pieces that were selected by the journal.

“Ecotone is a representation of getting to the other side of something and the difficulty and hardship,” Fowks said. “Treehome just represents an interest in nature.”

Olivia Baitinger, a student, had a poem selected for publication. The selected poem, titled “Sadness, The Abandoned Car You Take Refuge In.”

“I was tired, and the poem’s just kind of like, you know, when you’re sad and when you’re in those feelings, you just kind of stay,” Baitinger said. “I just had this picture of this old car in the forest.”

In addition to publishing the journal, there will be a reading by the student writers to celebrate the launch of the 2026 Mind’s Eye. It will also give them a chance to share their work with other students. Baitinger and Fowks will be two of the various students presenting their work at the Mind’s Eye 2026 issue launch.

“There will be students who are featured in the journal who will read their work to show it off. It will be a chance to celebrate that we’ve got students doing cool, creative stuff on campus,” Sykora said.

The Mind’s Eye will host an issue launch party on April 15 at 1 p.m. in the CoLAB, OCB 100.