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Originally a class project produced in pamphlet form, the Kaleidoscope International Journal has grown during its six years of operation into a biannual publication with a readership that staffers say is growing and quite supportive.
“We print about 450 copies each issue, and they go very quickly,” says Editor-in-Chief Emily Liddy ’16.
Her predecessor, Omeed Alerasool ’15, agrees. “I used to think that someone was just throwing copies away, but you could see that they were definitely reaching an audience.”
Staffed by undergraduates and funded by the Institute for the Liberal Arts, Kaleidoscope describes itself as an “unbiased medium for students to publish research and opinions on international affairs; share personal experiences in regard to the cultures of the globe; and promote a global outlook at Boston College.”
Its spring 2015 edition included an article by Ricardo Alberto ’16 about Kuwait’s expatriate labor force, which comprises two-thirds of the country’s population; an analysis by Rayne Sullivan ’18 of what he terms Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “nationalistic agenda”; a feature on transgender women in India by Rebecca Johnson ’17; and photo essays by Alerasool and Angela Wang ’16 on, respectively, Iran and Patagonia.
Alerasool – who became editor-in-chief as a freshman and played a major role in Kaleidoscope’s transition into a funded student activity – says the journal aims to have an appeal that transcends academic specialization.
“Of course, students and scholars whose work involves a global perspective, like International Studies, will find Kaleidoscope of interest. But it’s becoming increasingly important for all citizens to be better informed of international issues, events and trends, because votes translate into diplomacy. So we want to reach out to people who are simply looking to learn more about the world.”
The journal also accepts submissions from non-BC students, thereby further heightening its profile, and that of BC, according to Liddy, who notes that improving the journal’s online presence is a goal for the 2015-16 academic year.
Office of International Programs Director Nick Gozik, a member of the journal’s advisory board, says he doesn’t hesitate to promote Kaleidoscope, and often presents copies to visitors, especially those from abroad.
“There is great potential for the journal to not only become a campus-wide resource but also a national one. While there are many outstanding projects on campus, this one stands out as a particularly important one – one that reflects extremely well on the students and the University as a whole, and which ultimately epitomizes the best of a US liberal arts education.”
Adds Office of International Students and Scholars Director Adrienne Nussbaum, another advisory board member, “There is nothing else like it at BC in terms of its breadth and depth on international issues. One of its biggest strengths is the intersection of many and various international perspectives and experiences at BC from international students, students who have studied abroad, and International Studies majors. It definitely helps to internationalize the campus by exposing the wider BC community to important global issues, and hopefully is increasing knowledge and changing attitudes in these areas.”
Kaleidoscope is available in PDF through the Office of International Students and Scholars website [www.bc.edu/oiss]. For more information, e-mail kaleidoscope@bc.edu.