History of the Phoenix
Over the years a number of people have contributed significantly to The Phoenix but none more than John Stigall. Below is his introduction to Volume 7, which gives the history of the Phoenix to 1990. John Stigall passed away November 12, 2009, at the age of 58.
The first Phoenix appeared in Spring 1982 after a dozen or so students, particularly Belinda Cox, John Dixon, and Herron Johnson strongly urged that Chattanooga State create a literary magazine. The students were rather adamant, and for several months not a day would pass without someone visiting or calling me during my office hours to inquire about the magazine's creation and the steps I had taken to get it started.
I was impressed and even burdened at times with their persistence; the students had a great dea to say and were not going to let me ignore matters. Summarily, they felt that a college campus is not a college campus without active writers and artists on the grounds. Soon a few faculty members began dropping hints. Belinda and Herron had obviously expressed their feelings elsewhere.
Belinda and Herron thought up the name "Phoenix." I liked it, agreed, and ran the idea by Linda Reaves of the English Department in a casual conversation. She liked the title as well and lucidly expounded upon its suggestiveness. Dr. Charles Branch, the College's president at the time, pledged his support, and the work was on its way.
The students and I produced fifty-six pages from nearly three hundred pages of submissions. After several students voluntarily submitted drawings of phoenixes, Denise Frank of the art department contributed a student's drawing for our first cover. When the finished product arrived, the response campus- wide was enthusiastic. One could walk through the Student Center, Library, Cafeteria, Technology Building, and even the Gym and observe students as well as faculty and staff reading the magazine. Phoenix had arrived and filled some need.
In 1983, the interest and contributions grew. The interest was so intense that a faculty review committee was formed to assist the student review committee. An arts and graphics committee was formed as well. The only disappointment that year was the magazine's distribution. Four hundred copies were printed, and they were snapped up in less than two days. A few contributors failed to receive copies. Nonetheless, one could again see people reading the magazine across campus in various places. Upon the appearance of Volume 2, a writer's club was formed. The students wrote a constitution, made me their advisor, received recognition as an official student organization, and selected Wawona Green and Patricia Ellis as their primary leaders. Erica Johnson came up with the name Unicorn Writer's Guild. I didn't argue, but I struggled to see the relation between a unicorn and a phoenix. I now think she was perhaps staying clear of Pegasus, the traditional symbol of poetic inspiration, and creating a synthesis. The byproduct of a unicorn and a phoenix could resemble Pegasus. Anyway the Unicorn Writer's Guild met for workshops each Activity Period and soon English department members sat in and helped in the critiques. The workshop named an artist-in-residence, Lucy Raulston, who created and designed the Guild's logo. Moreover, Volume 2 of Phoenix included several pages of outstanding student art work from the Art Club's annual competition.
The 1984-85 year was quite productive. Volume 3 was a substantial 85-page production which included ten pages of works from the art department and Art Club. The Guild grew (at times taking in an activist spirit) and works by some of its members could be read in other publications. The students then wanted a creative writing class, but I resisted and opted for an introduction to poetry course with the Norton Anthology of Poetry as the primary text. I also wrote a syllabus for an introduction to the novel course but soon realized it was rather impractical to teach. However, with Volume 3 we learned how to distribute the magazine and thus avoid running out of copies in two days. Volume 3 also saw the creation of a prose and a poetry award. Wawona Green's essay "The Trail of Tears Revisited" and Grant Wilson's poem "The Blessing" were the first award winners.
By the 1985-86 year, Phoenix and the Unicorn Writer's Guild seemed established. I remember being followed by a group of students from the Print Shop to my office. I had to lock the magazines in my office overnight and wait for the calm. Volume 4 was a solid production with award winners and the whole shebang.
Phoenix, Volume 5, was a beautiful 90-plus page production with a good mix of material. There were four writing awards during the 1986-87 year, one of which was sponsored by the Writing Lab (now the Writing Center). The Introduction to Poetry class was even taught during the summer session.
The 1987-88 year was fruitful, full of promise. Contributions were heavy, and the Committees narrowed 300 pages of material down to an acceptable 70. The prose and poetry awards were decided upon, the plaques were ordered, the art department and art club chose their entries and winners, and word went out that Phoenix Volume 6 would soon appear. Soon appeared, but Volume 6 never did. The manuscript was lost. Although budgets were approved and publication numbers assigned, no one knew where to locate the manuscript. The sad irony was that we had become so confident that we neglected to photocopy the final manuscript. All I can say is the manuscript went to the ashes like the mythic bird.
It is now June 1990, and I have spent two years explaining the mysterious disappearance. I apologize to the contributors of Volume 6. I feel sorrow and regret; for there were those who felt hurt, those who felt anger, and those like me who felt patient bewilderment. In the meantime the Unicorn Writer's Guild gradually waned.
In 1988, a student named Patricia Walden Waters became a bit more than hurt and, in short, it is because of her efforts and the College's administration that Volume 7 is here. I want to thank Ms. Waters, especially, and Mr. Jonathan Parker for their help in getting it together during their spare time and sympathizing with my being knee deep in paperwork. The 1990-91 year looks promising. A new writer's workshop is being formed, and Professors Van Compton and Charles Mahan will lead out. The details are still being worked out. . . . With Volume 8 we will hopefully present writer's awards again and return to tighter jurying.
Finally, Volume 7 is called the 'Resurrection Issue' for obvious reasons, although "rise" and not "resurrection" is associated with the ascent of The Phoenix.
John C. Stigall, Sr.
June 29,1990
Since 1990 the Phoenix has continued to grow and develop with issues being printed roughly every other year. In addition to John, Karla Horner, Charles Mahan, and Richard Seehuus all assisted in editing the Phoenix. Volume 11 expanded to include black and white photography. Following Volume 12, circumstances left the Phoenix once again in jeopardy. John's health continued to deteriorate, preventing his taking a major role in the publication. Karla Horner left Chattanooga State for another position; Charles Mahan retired, and Richard Seehuus became Director of Educational Technology. Once again, it was student interest that allowed the Phoenix to rise again. Cody Maxwell, who had worked with Charles Mahan prior to his retirement, approached Richard Seehuus about the 2000 edition, and, as an interested faculty member, I was called into that meeting. Cody was already working on final editing of the issue; he and Charles Mahan had made arrangements for funding, and what was needed was a faculty member who could oversee the final preparations. I agreed to help. Mark Woods was contacted and agreed to help with photography submissions.
Because of Richard's and my involvement in technology, we also investigated creating an Internet presence for the Phoenix. The Phoenix 2000 (Volume 13) proved to be immediately popular, and the new millennium sees The Phoenix rise once more to include this web site. Beginning in 2000, issues of the Phoenix have been listed by year of publication rather than volume number.
The 2001 edition of the Phoenix is dedicated to John Stigall for his contributions both to the Phoenix and to Chattanooga State.
Bill Stifler
March 15, 2001
In Fall 2005, Bill Teem joined the Chattanooga State faculty and began working with Bill Stifler on the Phoenix. The 2006 Phoenix was larger and included prize winners from some campus writing contests and a section titled �The Best from the West,� representing a sampling of submissions by students at the Kimball campus, who that same year published Phoenix West under the guidance of Dorothy Lochridge, who also joined the Chattanooga State faculty in 2005.
At the end of 2007, the Phoenix web site received a long overdue facelift and expansion to include new resources and reflect new initiatives.
With new people, we hope that the Phoenix will continue to grow and showcase the best work of our students.
Bill Stifler
December 11, 2007