When Ann Prowell and Kyle Keigan

noticed a void in the content covered by ISU student publications,

they decided it was up to them to make a change.

Along with four other sophomores in

graphic design, the duo came up with the idea to produce a new

student-run magazine that filled this niche. The magazine, entitled

“Revival”, will spotlight music, fashion and local events with an

emphasis on design.

“I<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>t was something that just wasn’t out there,”

Keigan said. “It just hit us one day — like, why

aren’t <span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>we doing this?”

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>Keigan went on to explain that one of the

defining features of the new magazine is that it will be

image-dominant.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>“We’re visual people. As designers, we’d

rather look at something pretty than read a bunch of text,” Keigan

said.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>Another aspect that sets “Revival” apart

from other campus productions is the emphasis on keeping everything

from the fashion to the entertainment information local.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>“<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>We wanted our magazine to help readers

rediscover Ames as a community, discover great and fun fashion at

[their] fingertips … and music [they] have never heard or

listened to before,” Prowell said. <span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>This concept of rediscovery is at the heart

of the magazine’s name.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>”One of our goals is to help strengthen the

ties between the Ames community and the students of Iowa State,”

Prowell said.

The fashion section of “Revival”

will feature items found exclusively at secondhand and vintage

stores, Keigan said. The items showcased in the first issue were

purchased at Salvation Army and Goodwill, both in Ames.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>“We want to promote affordable fashions and

hidden treasures,” Keigan said. While he admitted that “finding

clothes was overwhelming and a little discouraging at times,” the

“Revival” team managed to find enough pieces for a strong inaugural

fashion section.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>While the music section of “Revival” will

have strong local ties as well, readers will also get a taste of

world culture.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>“All of our music staff are complete music

junkies who find these bands I’ve never even heard of,” Prowell

said. In addition to highlighting underground musical talent from

around the world, the first issue of Revival will also profile a

local band.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>Local happenings will take center stage in

the magazine’s events section. Prowell said that finding things to

do within Ames as an alternative to the weekend party scene was

central to this section’s mission.

<span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>“We want to get it across to our readers

that <span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>it’s still cool to go bowling, you know?”

Prowell said with a laugh. Many of the events highlighted by the

magazine aren’t necessarily well publicized by other outlets —

“Revival” seeks to promote these events specifically to students.

The section will generally cover “things you may not have heard

about otherwise,” Keigan said.

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”><span style=

“font-weight: normal;”>Something that certainly sets “Revival”

apart from the typical student publication as Iowa State is the

collective age of the editorial staff. Prowell and Keigan, who

serve as co-editors in chief, are both merely sophomores. While the

staff is now made up of approximately 30 individuals, many of the

magazine’s positions are held by underclassmen.

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”>Prowell

said sometimes as a younger student, it can be intimidating to get

involved with productions run by upperclassmen. Thus, one of the

goals of “Revival” is to appeal to the younger students at Iowa

State and encourage them to get involved.

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”>“The

magazine is certainly open to students of any major, any age and

any level of experience,” Prowell said. Despite the fact that many

of the students involved with “Revival” are design majors, “it’s

definitely not just for College of Design kids,” Keigan

said.

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”>“We

really want it to be something fun and not something people dread

going to,” Keigan said.

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”>From

the initial idea for the magazine to sending off the final design

for the preview issue, the conception of Revival has been an

absolute whirlwind, Prowell said.

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”>“It’s

been pretty hectic with the first issue — we sort of learned our

lesson,” Keigan said. Despite the chaotic process, the editors

managed to experience a bit of ironic “rediscovery” of their own

while compiling content for the first issue.

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”>“We

were walking around Main Street looking for advertisers and saw

stores we’ve never seen before,” Keigan said. “I’m from a town 10

minutes from here, and I came across things I never knew Ames had

to offer.”

<span style=

“text-decoration: none;”>As it

turns out, the aptly-named magazine truly lends itself its namesake

— a revival.