ADA, Okla. – East Central University faculty and students are set to host a spoken word open-mic and introduction to the 2027 student editors for the upcoming 70th edition of ECU’s long-standing literary journal, “Originals,” on the first floor of the Linscheid Library, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m.

The open-mic will offer ECU students, faculty and the general public an opportunity to not only meet the editors for the upcoming 2027 edition of “Originals” but also learn about the submission process for students and share their own original writing and visual art pieces.

The event is free and open to the public. Open-mic preference will be given to current students.

“Originals” is an annual literary journal that has been a fixture of ECU since the 1950’s. The journal offers students from any department across campus an opportunity to submit their writings or artwork for potential publication.

“We’re going to try to make this issue a little more whimsical,” said ECU English Professor and current advisor for Originals, Joshua Grasso. “We’re going to have more of an interplay with art and writing. We’re hoping to feature a lot more art and make this one more interactive.”

Submissions in poetry, short stories, novel chapters, lyrics, artwork and more are considered and accepted. Thousands of students have been featured in Originals over the decades.

Each year, students are chosen to serve as editors for the journal. For the 2027 edition, Shelby Ensey (Junior) of Roff, Addison Guinn (Junior) of Purcell, Kris Marc (Sophomore) of Maud, Aidan McCallum (Senior) of Wynnewood, have been chosen.

Information about submitting to “Originals” will be available at the open-mic, along with copies of past editions for browsing. Previous volumes may also be accessed on the Linscheid Library website at ecuoriginals.wixsite.com/ecuoriginals. 

For more information on “Originals,” contact Grasso at jgrasso@ecok.edu.

-ECU-