organizations
Heights
The role of Heights in the campus has become clearer over the years: the issues are more focused on publishing the best literary pieces made by students, and the publications have improved their design dramatically. In fact, Heights has participated and cosponsored a number of writing contests, and progressed from tackling Bilingualism to Filipinization. Initially, a Lay-Out Staff was created to experiment on the graphic design of the issues with the advent of the personal computer.
Heights resurrected in October 1974. Afraid of radicalism that redirected its concerns in the past years, Heights reestablished its policies and mission as the school literary organ. It placed "the cultivation of the craft of writing" as its first priority. Interdisciplinarity or a wide range of concerns and focus-not just politics-became its second agenda. Heights also addressed issues on bilingualism, saying that it will continue to accept works written in English and Filipino, and stressed the need to cultivate Filipino. The first issue released after the death of Pugadlawin was dominated by translations. And for the first time, Heights consciously develops a criteria for selecting works for publication, stressing that although a work may be relevant to the times, it must, first of all, be well-written. 1975-76 saw the reaffirmation of these objectives. Not only did they focus on craft more, they took time to seek fine examples of the kind of craft they arc looking in contributions. In school year 1976-77, Heights came out with an issue entirely in Filipino. The issue on language was tackled by Rolando Tinio. Also, Heights members offered services to their contributors as literary advisers.
In 1993, the practice of producing special issues was started. This was where student writers are anthologized along with prominent writers. These special issues gave students opportunities to improve their repertoire by exposing them to themes and topics in literature not usually seen in the regular issues and not always explored by students. Among topics already tackled by Heights in its special issues are literary translations, popular culture, essays, the art of writing, and the anniversary of co-education of the Ateneo.
The 1st Heights Writers Workshop was started in 1995, in continuing pursuit of the goal of Heights to foster the literary community in the Ateneo. Heights has most notably increased its campus activities, putting them on almost equal footing as the publication which was the only concrete contribution to the school body in previous generations.
The writer's chair as an emblem of Heights was adopted around 1996. It is meant to symbolize how literature is a product of careful thinking by the writer, patiently interacting and understanding the Muse and expressing the output in the written word. Heights' special role in the University as the only and official literary organization and publication is also embodied in the symbol of the chair-as a lofty position, where high standards, quality and excellence arc valued for better service to the student body.
Heights also commemorated its 45th year anniversary in SY 1997- 1998. A homecoming issue (Vol. 46, No. 1) was produced the following school year featuring works from some of the most prominent writers featured in Heights history, such as Jose F. Lacaba, Bienvenido Lumbera, Benilda Santos and Danton Remoto.
Heights also recently formed the Special Projects staff, headed by the Special Projects Managers, to cater to the growing need of the organization to hold activities that would further enjoin students to participate in celebrating campus literature. These activities include poetry readings, book launchings, talks and seminars by prominent Filipino writers, film showings, art exhibits, and many more.
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