With article topics ranging from alternative energy cars to couch surfing the new issue of Currents magazine – inserted in this issue of the Graphic – aims to ignite student discussion on campus.
This semester’s cover story “The Race Cards takes a unique twist on the tired Mac/PC analogy to challenge readers to become more culturally competent and generate discussion about race relations.
The premise of ‘The Race Cards’ is that you can basically capitalize on being great and being culturally competent in order to further your success in life said Currents Assistant Editor, Ashlyee Hickman, a junior, who wrote the piece. Cultural competence is something that can benefit everyone whether it is in their careers or personally. I think the Mac/PC analogy is something that all of us can relate to.”
Currents Magazine provides a forum for discussion that is not strictly news related. The magazine’s editor senior Jessica Biber said Currents is meant to be fun to read. She hopes it will challenge students to think in new ways.
Other major articles in the fall 2008 issue of Currents include an interview with musician Matt Nathanson a couch-surfing story about a man who traveled and slept on people’s couches traveling as far as India and “Doubters Anonymous a story about a University Ministries group that opens the door for people who might have questions about faith but don’t feel comfortable asking them anywhere else.
Going out of your comfort zone to embrace another culture another way of thinking another way of traveling or living is what people will take away from this issue Biber said.
The upcoming issue also includes lighter pieces, such as ways to avoid consumer pitfalls around the holidays and letters from upperclassmen to their younger selves.
There is a lot of conversation pieces in there Hickman said. We love to talk here at Pepperdine and Currents is definitely giving people something to talk about.”
Currents Magazine has been printing since the mid-1960s. The magazine was first known as Oasis Magazine but changed its title to Currents approximately 20 years ago according to faculty adviser Dr. Kenneth Waters.
The Currents staff is comprised of 12 people: two editors a photographer eight writers and a faculty adviser. Biber and Hickman are both former writers for the Graphic newspaper staff members.
Biber began writing for Currents her sophomore year and became the editor last spring. Hickman joined Currents this semester.
Biber and Hickman said they keep students in mind the entire time they put the magazine together and try to make Currents as fun and interesting to read as possible. “Working on a magazine allows you to expand creatively introduce people a little more and develop your stories to be more in-depth said Hickman.
Hickman said she hopes Currents will continue next semester, despite budget constraints. However, no decision has been made.