The University News

Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: Culture

Lucerna, Latin for "lantern," publishes the academic works of undergraduate students only.

The annual journal is funded by the UMKC Honors Program and the Student Government Association. The second volume was released Wednesday, Sept. 5.

"[Lucerna] is a collection of the best undergraduate student research on campus," said Jacob Westen, senior and editor-in-chief of the 2008 edition of Lucerna. "[It] allows students an excellent medium to participate in the conversation of academia."

Gayle Levy, director of the Honors Program, said the idea for the journal developed in 2005 when students in the Honors Program were brainstorming a new initiative to organize.

"They voted for an undergraduate research journal open to all UMKC undergraduates since one didn't exist," Levy said. "We hope to encourage the transmission of top-notch student research by allowing UMKC students a venue for publishing."

Students in the Honors Program make up the journal's editorial board and see each edition through to publication. Though Honors students run the journal, all UMKC undergraduates are encouraged to submit their work.

"Lucerna allows students to share their best work with the campus community and beyond the campus since the journal can also be read online," Levy said. "[A]ny UMKC undergraduate can submit a paper to the journal."

Editorial board member Dustin Jensen hopes UMKC students, when writing academic papers, will be inspired by the idea of having their work published.

"…[W]rite in a way that [does] more than fulfill an assignment," he said. "…[W]rite papers that might capture any readers attention."

Submitted papers are read by members of the Lucerna review board and given a score based on clarity, consistency, grammar, how well the paper sits in its field, and overall uniqueness, according to Westen.

Roughly eight diverse papers are chosen for publication.

"We want to have as many papers from as many departments as possible," Westen said. "Lucerna is a great resource because papers pertaining to all subject areas are welcome. If you have a paper you like that says something, submit it."

Volume two showcases Lucerna's diversity. Lisa Erickson's essay titled "Polygonal Numbers" is followed by Ashley French's "Determination of Magnesium Using EDTA." Then, Daniel Green philosophically scrutinizes the relationship between modern technology and friendship in "Aristotle on Friendship."

Continued...

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