Kent State’s Literary and Arts Journal, Luna Negra, hosted its launch party Thursday night on the third floor of the student center.

Luna Negra releases a new issue each spring. Audience members attended the launch to grab a copy of this year’s issue before it hit stands on Friday, April 15.

The magazine’s editor-in-chief, Samuel Hersh, said this has been a big year for Luna Negra.

“This is the biggest issue any student media publication has every had,” Hersh said.

The magazine was given a new look and style this year as it underwent new art direction.

“We wanted to move Luna into the future and make it up to real literary journal standards,” Hersh said.

Hersh said this year had the best submissions.

“They were top quality. It was really hard to pick,” he said.

It was also the first year Luna Negra had non-fiction stories.

“(The non-fiction stories were a) fun addition to the magazine, and I think it added a lot,” Hersh said.

Audience members were welcome to read any of their works, while enjoying food and drinks.

Michael Joseph, a graduate translation student, shared his fiction story, “Fall in Rome,” which appears in Luna Negra’s new issue.

Brittany Cole, a sophomore English major, also shared her work and read two poems from this year’s issue, “Folded” and “Bad Kids.”

“I thought the event really captured the depth of a lot of poetry,” said Garret Waugh, a junior English major. “It touched a lot of emotions within me.”

Kendra Nastalski, a graduate translation student, came to the event to support her boyfriend Michael Joesph.

“I thought it was really great,” Nastalski said. “It’s a nice event to share ideas.”

Luna Negra hits newsstands on campus Friday April 15. 

Jillian Holness is the humanities reporter for The Kent Stater, contact him at [email protected].