This fall semester, the students in Sacred Heart University's Newspaper Publication class decided to publish a magazine. This magazine, called "Pioneer", is the first student-run magazine circulated throughout the school.

The Spectrum advisor Dr. Debbie Danowski teaches the Newspaper Publication class, MS370. However, the magazine is essentially created for students, by students, because they wanted to depart from the usual insert that the course produces.

"Pioneer" editor-in-chief Kayla O'Brien, senior, Ossining, N.Y., said, "We wanted to create a publication unlike any others that we've done in the past."

Dr. Danowski has also taught a Magazine Publication class in which each student created his or her own magazine idea and worked individually to put it together. Those issues were never published and produced for such a large audience, and this is what separates "Pioneer" from other publications at SHU.

The semester's work is to be released on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005. Although O'Brien has much of her experience working as Associate Editor of the Spectrum, she says that she wanted to publish "something in addition to the Spectrum, without the newspaper feel."

In addition to O'Brien's senior project, which is also a magazine, she has worked with Dr. Danowski in Magazine Publication last spring and currently interns for Fairfield County Homes Magazine. The current issue includes her first published articles and inclusion to the masthead. "It's exciting," she said. "This entire experience has assured me that this is the field I want to be in."

This semester's worth of energy has gone into one big project that will hopefully reach out to each and every student. In past inserts, there has just been one focused theme, so a variety of topics makes "Pioneer" a completely new and experimental project.

Sections of "Pioneer" include Mind and Body, Entertainment, Style, Sports, and Relationships. The articles are aimed at college-aged students, and some are particularly directed to SHU students.

"Unlike a weekly newspaper, we were able to invest a larger amount of time and effort into the look, research, and feel of the magazine," said O'Brien.

Students who have heard about the magazine are anticipating its release.

"Since my freshman year here I haven't even heard about anything like this," says Jeanne Baker, senior, Franklin Square, N.Y. "I'm excited about it because magazines have a lot more content."

Ashley Garzi, a junior from Brookfield, says, "I think the magazine will be a nice change from The Spectrum, because you can always count on a magazine for good gossip and stories."

"Pioneer" is scheduled to produce another issue for the Spring semester, but it will be up to the remaining staff after the seniors graduate as to how and when the magazine will move forward.

Anyone who is interested in helping does not necessarily have to enroll in the class, but they will be credited in the magazine. It is open to students of all majors, even if they only have ideas for article topics. Students whose interests are editing, writing, photography, illustrating, or layout are welcomed by the staff.

"So far we have been lucky to have a great staff of editors, and we've even had our very own illustrator who helped us out a lot," said O'Brien.

The small staff of eight students in the Newspaper Publishing class has worked hard to create great work. "I can only imagine where this magazine can go with the help of the student body," said O'Brien.

Those interested in contributing to "Pioneer" should contact Kayla-Obrien@sacredheart.edu.