New Anthology Showcases A Culture of Writing and Inquiry at GU-Q
This year the winter semester started off with a unique expression of campus unity: a launch event for a book of student, faculty, and staff writing called simply Aswatna: Our Voices.
Part poetry reading, part book launch, and fully community supported, the evening was full of connection and reflection around a love of language, expression, and sharing diverse stories and experiences.
Jaelene Iyman (GU-Q’26) hosting the Aswatna: Our Voices launch party
“GU-Q has a strong student writing culture,” shared Aswatna Editorial Assistant Jaelene Iyman (GU-Q’26). “Students are constantly thinking, questioning, and creating across different languages and experiences. Aswatna was a way to bring this writing culture into an anthology that creates a dedicated space where student voices are celebrated.” Student writing is enriched by reflections from faculty and staff on significant moments in their time at GU-Q.
The colorful entries in both Arabic and English reflect a vast array of different perspectives: a Jesuit priest describing his delight at a heated debate on whether or not he will go to hell, excerpts from graphic novels, speculative fiction about making Hajj in the technofuture, and students reflecting on the preoccupations of their lives from course assignments to embodying their cultural heritage.
The anthology is the culmination of more than a year of work, led by English composition professor Mysti Rudd, Jaelene, and the Aswatna committee. For Dr. Rudd, the publication refreshes a tradition of highlighting voices from Qatar, an effort she established nearly a decade ago at Texas A&M University at Qatar, and is happy to preserve as part of Georgetown’s tradition of Liberal Arts education.
Jaelene, who joined the project motivated by her love for art and exhibition curation, describes the publication process as rewarding, “It’s exciting to see the students open their book copies and see their pieces featured throughout the anthology. It was extremely fulfilling seeing everyone eagerly contribute and bring this to life.”
Copies of Aswatna: Our Voices are available in the bookstore.