Seven years ago, a handful of American Politics and Policy students sat down at Dr. Michael Hayne’s house and decided to create a student-written undergraduate journal. That same journal just won an award as one of the best undergraduate journals in the nation.
Seven years ago, a handful of American Politics and Policy students sat down at Dr. Michael Hayne’s house and decided to create a student-written undergraduate journal. That same journal just won an award as one of the best undergraduate journals in the nation.
The 2014-2015 edition of the George Wythe Review won the “Frank Chodorov Award for Best Undergraduate Journal of Letters.” Editor in Chief Timothy Wier travelled to Mawr, Pa. this summer to attend a conference hosted by the Collegiate Network, where the journal competed against 30 other papers.
Named after America’s first law professor, the George Wythe Review publishes scholarly articles written by PHC students about domestic policy issues. “We look at the papers holistically,” associate editor Ashlyn Olsen said. The editors examine the subject, quality of writing, and level of research in each article.
“Honestly, I didn't expect us to receive an award,” Wier explained. “However, [the Collegiate Network was] impressed with our tackling of complex policy issues and putting various points of view in people's hands,” he added, referring to the journal’s inclusion of both conservative and liberal authors. “I think that is what made us stand out.”
In addition to Wier and Olsen, Josh Arnold, MJ Elliott, and Jeremy Tjia edited the journal. “The journal would not be what it is without the authors and the editors,” Weir said.
“The editorial staff has worked very, very hard,” Haynes said. “Everybody has built upon the quality work someone [from before] has put in.”
Haynes hopes the award draws more attention to the diversity of the APP program and adds credibility to PHC. “Any time you win something it helps the school,” he noted. Haynes also wants to take the review “beyond Patrick Henry,” hoping the journal might be published elsewhere.
“Take your papers seriously …. [and] engage in thorough research. Plan out your paper writing months before the deadline so you can think through what you're going to write,” Wier said.
“Treat each paper like it's going to be published someday … Your paper may be the next one we select.”
Originally published in PHC's The Herald
