The Lighter is made possible by not one, but over a handful of people. Each individual adds something to The Lighter whether they are a part of the selection committee or on the executive board. Do you know what really goes into the creation of The Lighter? This post is here to enlighten you and maybe interest you in joining next year (if you’re not already a part of this wonderful organization)!
Selection Committee:
As a member of the selection committee, it is your job to show up to meetings having reviewed the assigned submissions. The more feedback we are able to send back to the creators of the pieces the better! This semester, members of the selection committee have had the opportunity to get even more involved with the organization and help out with events on campus, sending out emails to the submitters, contribute to our amazing blog, and other neat things that might pop up!
The selection committee meets every other week on Monday and Wednesday night’s, with the nights interchanging each week. If you don’t have a lot of experience in creative writing or the art world, that’s okay! Anyone and everyone from all experience levels are welcome and it’s a great opportunity to learn! If you are looking for a fun, supportive, and creative atmosphere that is not extremely time-consuming, then The Lighter is the organization for you! We would love to have you!
(Photo: Part of our lovely Selection Committee!)
Social Media Manager:
A relatively new role, the Social Media Manager moderates all social media while also attending all executive board meetings, selection committee meetings, and events attended or planned by The Lighter. As Social Media Manager, you will produce and send out content on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook in The Lighter’s name. You will also put out flyers or other forms of information on upcoming events and deadlines.
The most rewarding part of this position is being the voice of The Lighter. Understanding that you are the reason the account gets more or less followers, or a post gets more or less likes or shares, and determines how many people are reached, how many submissions are turned in, and how others perceive the organization is an intense responsibility. But it’s so worth it.
Graphic Designer:
The Graphic Designer is the creative individual who is in charge of creating and designing all of our branding and the various posters and flyers used for the advertisement of our open submissions and our coffeehouses. You send and pick up the printed files from the on-campus printer and then, with the help of the rest of the executive board, you distribute the flyers all across campus.
Similarly, it is the job of the Graphic Designer to create the magazine! You are in charge of creating everything big and small; from creating the cover to the layout of the individual pages, everything down to the page number has been meticulously placed, thought of, and copy edited. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing countless late nights turn into a stunning magazine for everybody on campus to enjoy.
Assistant Editor:
As Assistant Editor, the title really helps explains the role. Your job is to assist the editor with many of the tasks like emailing, organization, communication, and representing The Lighter. During meetings, it is your job to take note of all of the comments on the pieces as well as be a voting member of the selection committee. One of the best things about being the Assistant Editor is seeing all of the different facets and voices that are incorporated into the creation of the magazine. It’s one thing to hear that a lot of “sweat, blood, and tears” have gone into something; it’s another thing, a whole new level of appreciation, to actually see it in the process.
Editor in Chief:
As Editor, your responsibilities include the slightly tedious tasks like scheduling, budgeting, documentation, and emailing (a lot!). BUT there are also the super fun parts like leading Selection Committee meetings, supervising the creation of the magazine, representing The Lighter 24/7, and the opportunity to bring your visions to reality! At the end of the night, the best part is being able work with people that inspire you and that share your passions, and getting to hold in your hands the incredible product of our collective hard work and creative ideas.
As you can see, all of the parts of The Lighter have to come together in order to make it the whole. The Lighter is not just an organization, it is also a family that welcomes you with open arms. If you have questions about any aspect of The Lighter, check out our “contact” page!
Stay creative!
~Alexis