Last Thursday, Mississippi State University’s creative arts journal, “The Streetcar,” hosted a release party for the volume’s sixth edition of the journal.
“The Streetcar” showcases the creativity of students on campus and is a platform for their writing. The journal is built around the artwork and aesthetics of the students, and has evolved over the years to reflect those changes in aesthetic.
The release party was a success in showing off and praising the uniqueness and creativity of students at MSU. Approximately 30 MSU faculty members and students gathered on the fourth floor of Griffis Hall to celebrate and discuss the talented artists, poets and short-fiction writers published in the journal.
To show appreciation for the students’ hard work and creativity, awards were given to the students for best poem, best short fiction, best artwork and the chosen cover artwork.
“The Streetcar” not only gives students an opportunity to publish their writing, but also provides ways for students to give their writing a voice. “The Streetcar” hosted many events throughout the year, including Open Mic Poetry Night and First Page Fiction Night, which allowed students to read their poems and short fiction in front other students. At the release party, students also read their poetry and short fiction for the attendees.
The release party was also a platform for last year’s co-editors, Morgan Hydrick and Robert Frey, to pass the torch to the new co-editors, Joy Cariño and Ciarra Smith.
Hydrick and Frey have been the co-editors of the publication for the past two years. The two spent their first year learning how the whole process works. They called this first year their “transition volume,” since they did not make many changes to what past co-editors had published.
Hydrick and Frey call this year their “transformation volume,” as they were already familiar with the original process, and were ready to make changes to make the volume unique. Volume six of “The Streetcar” has a new aesthetic and typography to match and showcase the artwork the students provided, and as a result, made the volume six release party much anticipated by the students and faculty of MSU.
“What I have enjoyed most about working at “The Streetcar” is being able to work with a talented staff,” Frey said. “There is a vibrant, artistic community here at Mississippi State, and it has been an honor to be able to show it off.”
Eric Vivier, the faculty advisor for “The Streetcar” for the last four years, said he does not micromanage the students’ work and he is only there to assist as needed, since this project is designed for students to express their creativity and originality.
“’The Streetcar’ is a very student-based organization. They have all the artistic control. Morgan (Hydrick) and Robert (Frey) have been delightful to work with,” Vivier said. “I meet with the editors every month to make sure everything is on schedule.”
Smith has enjoyed her time working with “The Streetcar,” and hopes to bring more awareness to the journal during her time as co-editor this coming year.
“I love being able to collect art from students from all different majors at Mississippi State,” Smith said. “I hope to bring more awareness and increase the presence of the Streetcar on campus.” 

Carino also hopes to make a positive impact during her time as co-editor during the coming year. Carino’s plans include brings more artists and poets to campus, creating a link between the MSU campus and the Starkville arts’ community.

“I hope to bring more awareness and increase the presence of ‘The Streetcar’  on campus,” Carino said.