Turned Inside-Out

Katie D.

June 29, 2010 - 3:27 PM

As announced last week, Turned Inside-Out magazine has arrived!  I've spent the last week distributing it to faculty and staff here at the university, as well as getting it sent out across the country to the Inside-Out instructors at the 100 universities nationwide that are currently teaching Inside-Out classes. What we accomplished here at the University of Oregon will have implications all around the country, and in other countries. (We sent copies to Singapore, France, Canada, and Ireland, to instructors and past participants there)

But, even better than the broad scope represented above, was the release party for the magazine. On June 24th, last Thursday, we celebrated the magazine at the Oregon State Penitentiary, with more than fifteen of the Inside contributors to the publication.

People who are incarcerated have so few opportunities to work on a project that is truly meaningful and that will be celebrated in the wider public. It was incredible to hand out the publication and to be able to tell everyone about the 200+ person mailing list, about the outreach work already begun with this text, and about the strong positive reactions we've received. We told everyone that the National Inside-Out Center would be distributing this to new professors, as well as utilizing it for fund raising and recruitment. Turned is something that represents the best of education: the potential to reach beyond our situations to be inspired and challenged to new levels of scholarship, empathy, and creativity.

But aside from the magazine itself, it was incredible to be back at OSP, seeing those Inside students. Some had been in the 2008 class, which I did not participate in, but I had read their essays and felt like I knew them, even in an abstract way. Then there were the students from the 2009 class, who I had known well for those ten weeks of spring term a year ago. That class was the true basis for my thesis, and what inspired me to work for the Inside-Out program. So many of the guys from that class are doing remarkably well: taking college courses and living the best and most optimistic lives they can given their circumstances.

But then there were my classmates from the 2007 class. I said goodbye to them in June of my freshman year, more than three years ago. When I shook hands and told them goodbye, I didn't know I'd be creating a magazine, writing this thesis, or working for Inside-Out. I said goodbye assuming I would never see any of them again. I fully believed that the farewell that day was the final moment of a friendship. Then, with the magazine, I had a chance to use their words and artwork to show their incredible talent and scholarship. Then I got to distribute their copies, shake their hands, and tell them how important their work really is to the national program, and to me.

In addition to the Inside students and Madeline (the other Outside coeditor) and myself, we brought quite a crew of outside folks who participated in the publication or made it possible through their support. The magazine adviser, Katey Gries, and the designer, Annie Vrijmoet were both there, and it was amazing to see how they intereacted with the Inside students and celebrated the collaborative process of creating a magazine. Our Professor, Steven Shankman, attended and celebrated his students. Melissa Crabbe, the Assistant National Director of Inside-Out, provided the context and enthusiasm of the program at large. Herb Chereck, of the UO registrar department, was responsible for arranging credit for the Inside students, and is an amazing supporter. David Frank, the Dean of the Honors College, was the most honored guest. Not only did he provide the funds to create the magazine, but it was also his enthusiasm that led to the project in the first place. Additionally, the Inside students were able to talk with the man who has provided the support for the classes in general, and someone who has made high-quality education the focus of his entire career. To hear his support for the program makes an incredible difference.

I feel so lucky to have participated in this program, at every level and at all times. Last Thursday I was reminded again the true value of what I've been able to do: that it is the individual people and the ability to communicate across social barriers as severe as prison walls in order to create understanding and beauty.