By Gabriel Middaugh

Two student-run publications, Crucible and (Not Just) Lip Service, are joining up together for the first time to release their newest issues, next week.

Many of the members overlap from one organization to another, and work closely on both projects. However, the joint release and celebratory dinner party is exciting for fans of both publications and anyone interested in becoming involved.

The release party will be held in Runyan’s Orchard Room on Thursday, April 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The goal of the social event will be to share the new issues, listen to readings from the contributors, eat pizza and bring more awareness to the work they do.

Freshman Seth Wenger said, “I have a couple pieces being released in the Crucible. We changed the format by releasing one issue instead of two. I think it came out better this way.”

Senior Helen Marie Staab, co-convenor of Crucible, also works as a staffer for (Not Just) Lip Service.

“I love the poetry and art so the Crucible is important to me. Lip Service is great as it’s trying to start a discourse about positive sexuality,” she said. “The hope is that by doing the release together, it will demystify everything. We want people to join and be part of the process.”

This will be the release of the 2009/2010 issue of Crucible and the fourth issue of the year for (Not Just) Lip Service.

Although some members are in both organizations, the publications run differently for a few reasons. Crucible has funding from the Student Organizations Council, popularity among literary groups on campus and accepts submissions through either boxes around campus or email.

In contrast, (Not Just) Lip Service lacks funding, they have less popularity because they are so new, and most of their submissions come via word-of-mouth or e-mail.

Staab mentioned that “there are limitations to becoming more popular and Lip Service doesn’t want to, because of these limitations.”

Students interested in submitting art, poetry, plays, stories or anything else that may fit into either of these publications are encouraged to contact Crucible at arthurmillerisdead@gmail. com or (Not Just) Lip Service at NotJustLipServiceZine@gmail.com. More information is available on their Facebook event page (search for “Crucible and Lip Service Release Dinner”) and at the release this Thursday.