Issue 31 (Winter 2024) – The Catalyst

Letter from the Editor

Dear Reader,

This quarter has reminded me of the sense of community fostered by The Catalyst. I want to share with you what The Catalyst means to me as my graduating quarter approaches. This organization has made me feel proud to attend this university, and to be able to share my creative spirit with other students. I have seen people come alive through their poetry, prose, and art. My dream before college was to be able to continue to write, and to find a space that encourages that process. The Catalyst has helped me engage with my writing in a way that has boosted my confidence in performance and in approaching the scary blank page. This quarter has seen our organization struggle with financial constraints to the point where we perhaps will not be able to offer a printed magazine in the future, and this frightens me. While the digital publication is important and ever existing, the print version of our magazine is tangible proof of students’ work coming together. It’s our trophy. The arts have always been a lesser prioritized facet of the university and society in general, and I was not ignorant to this. The only way for us to address this issue was to act. The community spirit of The Catalyst was highlighted through a fundraising event that we hosted during week 8. In an effort to help our print magazine, previous Catalytes, local Goleta residents, and the editorial staff put in the work to raise a generous amount. The dramatics of the situation were necessary. This magazine has been a light in my life since the beginning of my time at UCSB. Before I even arrived in person on campus I had published my writing in The Catalyst’s 2020 Fall issue, solidifying my place as a new Catalyte. My heart is in its hands, the two that create the symbol on the back of our magazine. Even after I am long gone, I will always remember the power of The Catalyst to enhance and empower my college experience. Even after I am long gone, I will know I spent my time in The Catalyst doing what I love most.

Kiana Perez Granados
Editor in Chief

† Content Warning: Please be advised that some of the material in the magazine may be disturbing or traumatizing to some readers. The magazine contains language and addresses themes that may not be suitable for young readers. We would like to provide our readers of the UCSB community with additional resources: