Official Statement:
Manuscripts is dedicated to fostering a safe, inclusive environment for both our contributors and staff. We don’t discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability status, religion, age, citizenship status, national origin, or any other aspects of an individual’s identity. We recognize that our magazine benefits from a broad range of identities and experiences. However, in order to foster this safe and inclusive environment, we must also recognize that some material may be harmful to our readers and staff members. Therefore, Manuscripts General Staff will not review any submitted material that Executive Staff deems to be insensitive and/or derogatory toward any marginalized group. We implement this policy in the hopes of creating a more socially responsible literary magazine.
What this means:
- Our Executive Team will be conducting a more thorough review of each submission that Manuscripts receives. If the majority believe a submission to be at odds with our DEI initiative and our goal to foster an inclusive environment, that submission will be issued an automatic rejection. Furthermore, Manuscripts will send the submitter a note that states our reason for rejection. They will also be directed to information (selected by our DEI Chair[s]) that will help them become better-informed about whatever topic and/or community that they’ve represented within their work. In addition, they will be asked to refrain from submitting to Manuscripts for a full calendar year. If we do receive any work from this submitter, it will not be reviewed by staff—it will be automatically rejected.
- Our Submittable (the service that collects all of our submission) will now include an “Identity” field. In this field, submitters will be encouraged to notify Executive and General Staff about any aspect of their identity or experience that informs the work they are submitting to Manuscripts. This will help to ensure that our staff reviews the work with the appropriate care and consideration it deserves. However, it is important to note that this field will not be required for submitters to fill out.
- Manuscripts will also work to continually educate our staff about various issues pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In order to achieve this goal, we will bring in speakers, attend on-campus and/or off-campus events, and provide staff with educational materials. This will better prepare our staff to discuss DEI-related matters.
What this will do:
Through the implementation of these new guidelines and practices, Manuscripts hopes to achieve several things. Our first priority, as previously mentioned, is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for our staff. We wish to ensure that no one ever feels uncomfortable or degraded by the material that we discuss during our meetings.
In addition, we hope to redefine what Manuscripts represents. The literary magazine should not only reflect the creative work of all university undergraduates in Indiana—it should also embody the morality and integrity of that undergraduate student body.
In addition, we hope to redefine what Manuscripts represents. The literary magazine should not only reflect the creative work of all university undergraduates in Indiana—it should also embody the morality and integrity of that undergraduate student body.