“It’s been a year and a half since I left Goodenough College. In the recent Alumni reception, held this past June, I was reunited with many GC friends, whom I haven’t seen in nearly ten months. And it truly felt like walking back into a beloved dream, as if time hadn’t passed, and everything was frozen in time. But GC, thankfully, hasn’t frozen in time.

While living in GC, I was well aware of its history, the good and the bad. From an institute that refused admission to women or anyone outside “the dominions and colonies” of the UK (when colonialism was still considered normal by the international community), to a residence that welcomes all genders, nationalities, religions and ethnicities. And during my stay, GC encouraged its members to express themselves and bring forward their issues.

I’ve personally always believed that art is the most powerful expression of self. Many before me have often used art to examine the world, come to peace with it or criticise it (many times in the hope that their words might seed the doubt that will change the world). In late 2017, when I thought about founding a creative writing magazine in GC, I hoped that by creating a platform for GC members to share their creativity and art, it would encourage us to express what mattered to us the most.

The way I saw it, expressing what mattered most to GC members could have been a piece about the world, life or even problems with GC itself. And to be fair, GC wasn’t exempt from criticism. For example, one of the burning issues during my time at the College, was the fact that GC didn’t have a comprehensive Sexual Harassment prevention policy. I encouraged members to write or paint whatever their hearts desired, as long as it was creative, original and was created during their stay at GC. I wanted the magazine to reflect the variety of GC members’ lives.

As an Israeli Jew from Georgian origins, I’ve come with my particular set of experiences, and I set out early on to learn as much as I could about other cultures and meet as many people as possible. GC’s clubs and societies were a great motivator as well. From talking about world politics over beer or port, to celebrating my holidays and being introduced to new traditions and festivities I wasn’t familiar with. And the magazine was intended to bring forth the great richness of experiences and perspectives that GC members have brought with them to London.

Having all of that in mind, I sent out an open call for submissions in early 2018, expecting few responses. To my surprise, dozens of members expressed their interest and encouraged the project. I was stunned. There was a hunger for creative expression in the college; people wanted to use their voice, share their thoughts, fears and prayers. And the first issue is one of the things I’m proudest of in my life.

The first issue was launched on August 10th, 2018. It was a whirlwind of creativity, love of arts, and expression, and the culmination of a few months of work. It had fantasy, mischief, nostalgia, and beauty, all bundled together into 36 pages of colour. The launch was the best way to say goodbye to London and GC, as I changed my GC status from a member to an alumnus a month later.

Recently, the magazine has come back to life thanks to Sarah and Claire, and I am eternally grateful to them for taking the initiative and reviving this project. In the midst of all the global problems, it’s good to have a creative outlet. An environmental crisis, the rise of xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, transphobia and misogyny, and a political earthquake, are only a few of the current problems young people in the UK (and the world) face. Now, with the upcoming departure of the UK from the EU, it is likely that GC members like me, from outside the UK, will be faced with new issues. Migration is hard as it is, and it’s going to become even harder.

Personally, I hope that the magazine will be used to share your thoughts with the community, and perhaps even further the conversation about issues that concern GC members today. But most of all, I hope that GC members will continue finding this platform enriching. I am one of those who believe that art is the most powerful expression of self – and GC has a strong, diverse, and heterogeneous cohort. I can’t wait to read what’s on current GC members’ minds.”

Diana Baron, February 2020