N.C. Central Restores Literary Magazine

Ex Umbra is back. While many were wondering what happened to North Carolina Central University's literary magazine, Chancellor James Ammons gave them an early Christmas present. He decided to restore it.

Photo credit: Nikki-Giovanni.com A speech by poet Nikki Giovanni is included in the latest issue of Ex Umbra.

Ammons said he did not know that the university had cut the funding of the magazine until he read a story in the Durham (N.C.) Herald-Sun.

Ex-Umbra is published at the beginning of each academic year and carries work collected from the previous year. A booklet printed on glossy stock, it usually has between 60 and 80 pages of short stories, artwork and poems from students and others at the university.

The current online edition includes a speech by poet Nikki Giovanni made on campus during the fall 1998 semester.

In its first issue, in 1965, the editors wrote:

"The name of this magazine, Ex Umbra, is Latin for 'out of the shadows'. There are two reasons that the staff chose to call the magazine by that name. First, the staff agreed that the creative students at North Carolina College at Durham were too much in the shadows, and that they needed to be brought out into the light where their fellow students could recognize their talent and enjoy their work.

"Second, the staff also agreed that creative students at predominately Negro colleges throughout the south were in the same situation, that too much good talent was going unrecognized. The idea of this magazine was to create a forum whereby this talent could be given the light of recognition."

In announcing his decision to restore the publication, Ammons said, “I don’t know why nobody came to me about the news concerning the Ex Umbra. The magazine is very important to students and to the Department of English. This outlet is very crucial for the student body.”

The Campus Echo reported the discontinuation in its Oct. 27 issue. Apparently, that caught the attention of other news media, such as the Herald- Sun, USA Today, the Associated Press and the University of North Carolina's public radio station.

Roland Gaines, vice chancellor for student affairs, had justified the discontinuation by saying that the $7,000 funding had been channeled to orientation and the women’s center.

The unexpected end of the magazine prompted students to sign a petition urging its restoration.

But before it could reach the chancellor, news of the demise had reached several local newspapers, and the university acted.

Not only did Ammons restore the magazine, he increased its budget to $10,000.

Its expenses will no longer be supervised by the student affairs office. It will now be under the full control of the English Department.

“I really appreciate the chancellor’s quick action in ensuring the reinstatement of the Ex Umbra,” said English Department Chair Louise Maynor.

Andrew Williams, who has served as the adviser to Ex Umbra for more than nine years, is back at work. “I was very excited and happy about the return of the magazine and everybody is welcome to submit their works,” he said.

Ex Umbra editor Angela Haile, a journalism junior, said that placing the publication under the English Department "gives me hope on its durability.”

She urged all students to submit their works for publication.

“People are good about submitting poetry and short stories,” said Haile. “But we need a lot of people to do artwork and photography."

Ammons said he was looking forward to his personal autographed copy.

Ihuoma Ezeh, a student at North Carolina Central University, writes for The Campus Echo.

Posted Nov. 29, 2004