While working at the Writing Center, senior Clare Oldenburg often found herself reading student essays and thinking: More people should see this.

Determined to create a space where students’ academic work could reach a wider audience, last month Oldenburg founded Apprenticii, a new online literary journal that publishes undergraduate English and literature papers.

“There are so many talented students here writing insightful papers, and I wanted to create a space where they could share their work and have something to show for it at the end,” Oldenburg said. “Just because work is done by undergraduates doesn’t mean it’s not rigorous or worth reading.”

The journal seeks to highlight close readings of great books and encourage undergraduate scholarship.

“Your 10-page paper on the friendships in ‘Moby-Dick’ can have a fate other than languishing in your files. The detective work you did while tracing the presence of tiny red hands in Hawthorne’s short stories is no longer for naught,” the Apprenticii website says. 

Since launching, Apprenticii has already published several essays, including Lucy Fernandes ’24’s paper, “Words Revealing Persons: The Role of Verbal Communication in James Joyce’s ‘The Dead,’” and Meg Smith ’24’s essay, “Jane, Janet, and the Rescue of the Beloved: ‘Tam Lin’ as a Source for ‘Jane Eyre.’”

The inspiration for Apprenticii, Oldenburg said, came from many places: conversations with friends about their coursework, her own experiences in the Writing Center, and even frustration with the lack of quality she sometimes found in academic journals.

“I’d be on JSTOR, scrolling through articles, and think, ‘Some of the student papers I’ve read are better than this,’” Oldenburg said.

With that thought in mind, she spent her Christmas break designing the website, setting submission standards, and recruiting editors. Her efforts quickly garnered support from two former students: associate editors Smith and Fernandes. 

“It sounded like an amazing and unique idea, and I wanted to help with it in any way possible,” Smith said. “I have several papers from undergrad that I was genuinely proud of, and I’ve read so many amazing papers written by friends as well. Creating an outlet where these ideas can be part of a larger conversation brings all of this scholarship, which would otherwise be forgotten at the close of a semester, into the light.”

Fernandes’s enthusiasm for the project also stemmed from an appreciation for the depth and quality of student writing.

“Apprenticii is an important forum because it can allow for a free exchange of ideas, unencumbered by the limits of professional publishing or secondary criticism,” Fernandes said. “The stakes are low, but the potential fruit is rich. It is simply a place to share how academics have showed us something beautiful.”

Apprenticii focuses on publishing papers that engage with literary works, emphasizing close readings and analyses that explore “the goodness, truth, and beauty inherent in works of literature.”

“We want papers that explore great literature in a meaningful way, rather than chasing academic trends,” Oldenburg said.

The journal is still in its infancy, but Oldenburg said she has big plans for its future. 

Currently, all submissions are published online, but she hopes to move to print publication eventually. She also wants to expand beyond Hillsdale to include submissions from like-minded institutions such as the University of Dallas and Christendom College.

“There’s a strong need for good, true, and beautiful art,” Oldenburg said. “And there’s an equally strong need for properly ordered understandings of that art. If we can help foster that, even in a small way, then Apprenticii is doing its job.”

Smith also envisions Apprenticii growing both in its reach and focus.

“I’d love to see Apprenticii expand to include journals focused on history, art, and other subjects,” Smith said.

Since launching, Apprenticii has received positive responses from students, with one paper already undergoing the editorial process. 

“We are still ironing out the exact process, but depending on who has the most time, one of the editors will review a paper, make any necessary suggestions, especially regarding spelling and grammar, and make sure the formatting fits our requirements for citations and notes,” Smith said.

As Apprenticii gains traction, Oldenburg hopes students recognize the value of sharing their academic work beyond the classroom. 

“I think students sometimes undervalue their own work,” Oldenburg said. “But if you’ve poured hours into research and writing, why not share it? We’re all apprentices in this craft of learning, and that’s what Apprenticii is all about.”