Amaris Ketcham, Faculty Advisor
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: Under the trees by the anthropology building, where you can watch hawks
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: The last picture I took with my phone was of an image of a phone on a phone booth.
If you had to choose one work of art to look at forever, what would it be?: The cave paintings at Lascaux
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: Woody Allen (give it a couple more years)
What’s your favorite literary work?: Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Paramo
Zodiac, what’s your sign?: Capricorn
Jesse Montoya, Editor in Chief
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: I love the dark and quiet depths of CSEL (Centennial Science and Engineering Library). Particularly, I like the solitude and peace of CSEL’sstudy rooms. They’re great for thinking, writing and working. And if you get bored you can always entertain yourself by reading the peculiar scribbles left by random people. Some of the scribbles are hilarious, others are disturbing, and few are profound.
Tied for my favorite is the Scribendi office, because it’s always full of the most interesting people on campus.
If you had to choose one work of art to look at forever, what would it be?: Pretty much anything by René Magritte. Perhaps Son of Man or Empire of Light.
Who are your inspirations?: Raymond Carver for his mastery over short stories in spite of his alcoholism. Sherman Alexie for his success with humorous writing and his insistence to remain true to who he is. Nathanael Hawthorne because his genius was immortalized in American literary canon despite his vast obnoxiousness and whininess. Even when pressured by financial problems and poor reception he still managed to produce fascinating works that explored the topics he was interested in.
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: Nathanael Hawthorne. Seriously. This guy was obnoxious. I swear being haunted by Hawthorne would be like being haunted by an emo kid. “Nobody understands me,” “Nobody likes me,” “Nobody reads my work,” “The people that read my work are too dumb to get it” etc. He would be the most annoying ghost ever.
If you could travel in time…?: I would probably travel around creating as many paradoxes as possible and making a general mess of things. Think of it as a kind of cosmic prankery. I would view this as a passive-aggressive (and hilarious) commentary and protest about the oppression of the linearity of time. It would simultaneously protest the inherent structure of order and logic. It would be great fun. With any luck I would immortalize myself as a recurrent trickster figure throughout history.
What’s your favorite literary work?: This is such a difficult question because it will change depending on when you ask me and what’s salient in my mind at the time. I’m feeling partial to the absurd at the moment, so I’ll go with Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
Keriden Jumping Eagle Brown, Managing Editor
What is your favorite word? Least favorite?: My favorite word is Soliloquy. It sounds pretty, and it feels like honey rolling off the tongue. I like that it is comprised of soft sounds. And it is constantly used in Shakespearean works, which I adore.
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: My favorite place to hang out on campus is probably the greenhouse in Castetter hall. It is always warm and I love plants. Foliage is relaxing and good for the soul.
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: The last picture I took on my phone is of a car. Stingray Rebuild from here in Albuquerque.
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: My favorite Local restaurant/business is Cheese and Coffee Cafe. It’s a cute little sandwich shop on Louisiana and Menaul.
Who are your inspirations?: One of my inspirations (besides the usual family and teachers, blah blah blah), is Christopher Morley. He is an excellent essayist and satirist that isn’t as well known as I would like for him to be. My favorite of his works is Pipefulls. Another inspiration of mine is David Sedaris. When You are Engulfed in Flames is a fantastic read and full of witty, dark humor
What’s your favorite literary work?: My favorite literary work is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. I have always loved really wordy texts, as long as they are done correctly. Like, A Christmas Carol was written in this manner because the author was paid by the word. Count of Monte Cristo, however, is much more interesting, in my opinion. Sword fighting, lies, deception, death, mystery, virtue, romance, vengeance… it’s a well done action novel. The movie doesn’t to it justice.
Neethi Baskaran, Digital Editor
What is your favorite word? Least favorite?: My favorite word right now might be ersatz, or mystery, or abject. Least favorite? Maybe “gross.” Although I guess it’s effective at conveying its meaning.
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: My favorite place on campus is a secret. My second favorite might be that little alcove of trees in that building near Zimmerman. I don’t know what it is, but it’s trying to be a forest.
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: The last picture I took with my phone was actually of a pillar at a bus stop in which someone had placed an insufferably hipster piece of brown paper with a philosophical quote printed on it by typewriter. I’d almost forgotten, I me
ant to text that to a friend. I’m slowly ruining my not-hipster cred.
If you had to choose one work of art to look at forever, what would it be?: I’m not sure I could look at one piece of art forever. The night sky? Oh god, I’ve completely ruined my not-hipster cred.
Who are your inspirations?: My inspirations are Captain America and Fox Mulder. I’m so sorry.
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: Oh god. Probably, like, Ted Bundy or something. Not to be morbid, but a serial killer is the last person I want haunting me.
Kara Filipas, Office Manager
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: Outside of the Scribendi office, I love the vine covered walkway by the Kiva because the flowers on it are beautiful and smell pretty, though I also really love ducks so the duck pond is up there too…
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: A picture of my dog, Batman
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: Graphic Designer, though what I will be designing is still up for discussion.
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Cravin’ Cookies… and More! (though I am kind of biased because my mom owns it…)
What’s your favorite literary work?: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Zodiac, what’s your sign?: Scorpio through and through!
Michael Andrews
What is your favorite word? Least favorite?: Fav: eloquent, Least favorite: though
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Dion’s. If I don’t order a pizza, I can always order a sandwich or salad.
Who are your inspirations?: No one in particular. Usually tidbits of inspiration come from a variety of sources.
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: John Fiedler (voice of piglet)
If you could travel in time…?: I would pretend I was The Doctor.
What’s your Hogwarts House?: Ravenclaw.
Zodiac, what’s your sign?: Gemini—I have a split personality.
Emily Ayers
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: My dream job would be in editing or publishing because I love the idea of being the one who helps choose which stories are shared with the world. I’ve been reading since I was four, and I’ve always love fixing mistakes in other people’s work. Therefore, being on the Scribendi staff is a great opportunity to learn and grow in my ability to understand what it takes to excel in my field.
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: My favorite local business is tied between Boba Tea Company, Olo, and Satellite.
Who are your inspirations?: My dad is one of my major inspirations in life. Even though he didn’t get to finish college, he worked his butt off to ensure I had a better childhood than his. He supports me in everything I do, and encourages me when I feel like I’m going to collapse from the pressures of life. I would not be the woman I am today without my father’s support.
What’s your favorite literary work?: I don’t really have a favorite literary work, but if I had to choose, I would probably choose The Scarlet Letter. I also enjoyed reading Lolita. Although the story itself made me sick to my stomach, it opened up my mind on the sexualization of young girls and how prevalent it is (and was) in our society. Both novels helped me grow as a reader and a feminist.
What’s your Hogwarts House?: I was sorted into Slytherin by the Pottermore quiz. At first, I was a little skeptical, but now I fully embrace my House—after all, not all Slytherins are evil!
Zodiac, what’s your sign?: If you’ve met me, you know that my personality is almost textbook Leo.
Victoria Camarillo
What is your favorite word? Least favorite?: One of my favorite words is “irk.” One of my least favorite words is “ointment.”
If you had to choose one work of art to look at forever, what would it be?: If I had to look at one work of art forever, it would be Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter’s visual album.
Who are your inspirations?: My inspirations are Beyoncé, my parents, and Junot Diaz.
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: I would least want to be haunted by Hitler.
If you could travel in time…?: If I could travel in time, I would like to see what humanity is like in several hundred years—will police still racially profile and murder innocent people, will women have equal pay to men, etc.
Zodiac, what’s your sign?: My zodiac sign is Gemini.
Caitlin Carcerano
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: My favorite place at UNM is in one of the study rooms in my residence hall. It’s cozy and tucked away against a dark brown wall. It’s the perfect place to hide away when things get too crazy.
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: The last picture I took on my phone was a picture of the KiMo theater downtown. I feel like it’s such a typical thing for someone not from Albuquerque to take a picture of.
If you had to choose one work of art to look at forever, what would it be?: The Kiss, by Gustav Klimt. It’s absolutely beautiful and there are so many nuances in the painting that I would never get bored.
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: A comic book illustrator for Marvel, ideally while living on the beach and owning three dogs.
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe! I could eat there for the rest of my life.
Who are your inspirations?: I am inspired by David Bowie, Alphonse Mucha, the aesthetics of the sixties, seventies, and eighties, pictures of space, and Lady Gaga.
Joseph DeBonis
What is your favorite word? Least favorite?: Gotta go swag for favorite word and retarded for my least favorite.
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: A picture of my brother taking a picture of my dad taking a picture
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: Editor in chief at Pitchfork.com
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Padilla’s Mexican food
Who are your inspirations?: Kanye West, Lil B, Derek Jeter, and Justin Timberlake
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: Michael Jackson
Savanna Duran
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: Alumni Chapel
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: Practicing law in Albuquerque
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Bookworks
Who are your inspirations?: My parents, grandparents, and sister
If you could travel in time…?: Visit Notre Dame Cathedral when it was first built
What’s your favorite literary work?: Les Miserables. Thank you to my high school English teacher, Mrs. Haist, for introducing me to such a beautiful work of love, redemption, and perseverance.
Daniel Guardado
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: The 3rd floor SUB balcony (it’s easy to creep on people without them noticing).
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Hector’s—its real name is Café 66, but I feel like that name is too similar to Route 66 Café, so I just call it the name of the owner. It’s this tiny restaurant by Bridge and Central and the food is beautifully New Mexican.
Who are your inspirations?: The divine goddess Lana Del Rey, and pizza.
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: Okay, I know this person isn’t dead yet but Nicholas Cage.
What’s your Hogwarts House?: I’m reppin’ Ravenclaw.
Zodiac, what’s your sign?: Cancer, and I consider myself to be a part-time astrologist.
Sarah Haak
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: It appears to be of a wilted sunflower head on the concrete in the middle of a road.
If you had to choose one work of art to look at forever, what would it be?: Lorado Taft’s sculpture, The Solitude of the Soul
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: Owning a bakery/used bookstore in Paris.
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Farina’s Pizza or The Grove Cafe
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: Ummm….any dead person, clearly.
What’s your favorite literary work?: Refusing Heaven by Jack Gilbert
Quinci LeGardye
What is your favorite word? Least favorite?: Favorite: halcyon. Least favorite: moist.
What’s your favorite place at UNM?: Mesa Vista Courtyard (the grassy area right next to Honors)
If you had to choose one work of art to look at forever, what would it be?: Almond Blossoms by Vincent Van Gogh
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: Author or research psychologist
What’s your favorite local restaurant or business?: Sadie’s of New Mexico
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: Edgar Allan Poe, because he’d think of really horrible ways to scare me.
Kimberly Mitchell
What was the last picture you took with your phone?: The most recent thing in my pictures is a screenshot of my schedule, which is boring. The last actual picture I took was of a car with a license plate that said ‘A LEE N’. I was at a stoplight, so it was okay.
What’s your ‘Dream Job’?: I would love to be paid to write books and play video games all day. Or maybe read. Ooh, can I just get paid to not do anything in particular, and just kind of do whatever strikes my fancy at any given moment? I want that job.
What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?: I wouldn’t want to be haunted by Edgar Allan Poe, because I feel like being dead would only make him crazier/creepier and he would do things that would destroy what little sanity I have. I don’t think that would be good for the people around me.
If you could travel in time…?: That depends, what kind of time travel are we talking about? Do I get to change history, or just kind of watch it? Or am I actually going into a parallel universe with its own timeline? No, wait, that doesn’t change my answer. I would go everywhere, and it would be awesome.
Or I’d just go back five minutes now and again to play pranks on people. That’d be fun too.
What’s your favorite literary work?: Because you asked, I’ve now forgotten every literary work I’ve ever encountered. Right now I’m going to say The Princess Bride by William Goldman. The movie has always been one of my favorites, and the book just makes me happy every time I encounter it. But my answer might change again in five minutes, so…
What’s your Hogwarts House?: I wanna say Griffindor, but realistically it would probably be Ravenclaw.