It is our pleasure to present to you the first issue of the American University of Armenia’s student magazine The Highlander.
As juniors majoring in English and Communications, we were inspired to create a student magazine after taking courses in media and journalism.
Our instructors, our peers, the AUA community, Armenian writers and journalists inspired us to create a platform that represents our student perspective and voices on life at AUA. Our team consists of diverse, enthusiastic and talented individuals from different majors collaborating together.
After the difficulties we faced in the past years together, we believe that the AUA community needs a new place of hope that will bring us together. The online classes that lasted for almost a year made it clear that we, as a community, do not have a space that unites us beyond the campus.
Our great hope is that the magazine becomes a virtual space (for now!) which will create a platform for students to discuss different ideas and issues present in the AUA community. It will also introduce AUA to the outside world. We truly value and believe in the importance of sharing our stories and raising awareness about significant issues and events.
Our purpose is to bring together the diverse voices of students at the university. The magazine also aims to be a critical voice in the community. We wish to connect, entertain, share, and discover AUA life from the eyes of its community members. The magazine will not only reflect on AUA life, but will also become an informative corner for AUA as well as for the public.
As we embark on this journey, we hope that The Highlander will become a sustainable magazine with a legacy for future generations of students to carry on.
You are probably wondering why The Highlander. We named the magazine The Highlander because whether Armenian or not, if we are at AUA then we are highlanders – people who live in the Armenian Highlands. While being a modern university that upholds western educational values, AUA also bears the marks of the culture and community it is a part of and so does the magazine. Hence, the name.
Our first issue is an introductory publication, thus it will explore various topics highlighting the diversity of our university life.
If you are a member of the AUA community and wish to express your creativity and use your skills in the service of the magazine, we would love to have you on board.
Sincerely,
Editors-in-Chief
Anna Andreasyan and Sona Gevorgyan
I absolutely love this magazine, everyone! It’s fabulous, and I’m so happy you’ve launched it. Well done.