Paumanok Journal
Letter from the Editor
Dear readers,
The name “Paumanok”, meaning Long Island in the aboriginal language, has been rendered as the title of The Stony Brook School Journal since 1987. The name symbolizes the grounds from which the journal takes inspiration and the community to which the journal gives back. With its continuous flourishment to 2004, the short revival in 2008, and the ultimate return now, Paumanok proves to be a vital medium for connecting writers and artists alike back to where we call home— the Stony Brook community.
The 15 years between 2008 and now is a chasm in which many memories are lost, but Paumanok is not one of them. Paumanok is not simply a manifestation of the interactions between the culture and the writers. Instead, it embodies a special type of endurance— a type that stems from the everlasting desire for human beings to come back to their roots; a type of organic and vibrant endurance that would proceed through time. Thus, I welcome you to the journal’s first debut since 2008, and a special THANK YOU to Dr. Morley who makes this happen.
Sincerely,
Jason Lu
On Contemplation
The Humanities Council believes that “an unexamined life is not worth living”; and that seeking truth requires turning inward (to know oneself) and upward (to know the Transcendentals). Our ability to contemplate and think abstractly is what defines us as human beings, yet we are often caught up in the fast-paced world that we cannot find margins for contemplation. The Humanities Council aims to create spaces in the midst of school life where students can contemplate freely, without distractions.
On Connection
The Humanities Council believes that “no man is an island entire of itself”. Through connecting, we see Truth, Beauty, and Goodness in each other and through each other’s lenses. We gain the strength to hope and love, the courage to scrutinize and reconstruct, and the humility to learn and grow. The Humanities Council is devoted to creating a trusting and loving community where students who are passionate about the humanities come together to truly connect with each other.
On Creation
The Humanities Council believes that in creation, we process the fruits of our contemplation and connection and allow them to be rooted in the world. By doing so, those fruits multiply so that our community is enriched. The Humanities Council aims to provide spaces and opportunities for students to create specifically in the form of creative writing while encouraging all forms of creative expression around campus.