Montclair State’s student-run creative arts magazine is marking its centennial with a milestone edition.
First established in 1926, The Normal Review is the official literary arts publication of Montclair State University. For the past century, it has served as a means for students to express themselves creatively and spread their work to the campus community. The organization is currently seeking submissions for its 100th anniversary double issue through April 10. The magazine welcomes short stories, poetry, photography, art and even essays.
Junior English major Andres Lopez is the editor-in-chief of The Normal Review.
Junior English major Andres Lopez is the editor-in-chief of The Normal Review. Thomas Boud | The Montclarion
According to Lopez, the double issue is anticipated to be about 100 pages, twice as long as its standard semesterly printing. This year, only one magazine is being produced due to the supersized volume.
The editor-in-chief elaborated on the hallmark edition’s encompassing theme.
“[The content is] more open, but we do have a general theme of change, which can be widely interpreted,” said Lopez. “We’re looking for pieces that speak to the length of time that has lasted; change that can occur, processes of change, whether that is in the most subtle manner, or great changes. We’ve gotten a lot of very intense character arcs in some of the short stories so far.”
Lopez said the centennial issue will feature special material.
“We have a collaboration with the art and design department on something that will be featured in the Montclair Art Museum,” Lopez said. “We’ll have the winners of the fiction prize for the entire English department published this year. It will have a lot of extra content.”
Lopez feels touched to be involved with The Normal Review during its 100th year.
“It’s definitely an honor,” Lopez said about the special occasion. “I am happy and excited that we’ve gotten to 100 years. It speaks to the strength and power of the humanities; even now, at a time when it’s kind of being attacked, but the fact [that] it’s lasted for 100 years is amazing.”
Lopez recently reviewed The Normal Review’s old era copies in the Sprague Library archives. The creative magazine was once known as Four Corners and as Quarterly, when it was published four times a year. He added that The Normal Review once existed as a column in The Pelican, The Montclarion’s ancestor.
The editor-in-chief said the magazine, following its 100th year showcase, will revert to its semesterly format. A quarterly schedule is not practical, given a limited budget.
According to Lopez, in related affairs, The Normal Review absorbed the Red Hawk Writers in a late February merger, and the magazine will host writing events in the near future.
“We’ll be doing some workshops in the latter half of the semester,” Lopez said. “We don’t have dates finalized yet, but we are doing a query letter workshop for people who eventually want to get published.”
At present, The Normal Review’s spring 2026 meeting calendar has not been finalized. The group usually convenes in Dickson Room 175.
“We’ve been redesigning the meeting format to have more workshops. So now, it’s going to be something like an asynchronous reading and voting process,” Lopez said, “and then monthly workshops.”
Dr. David Galef is an English professor at Montclair State and has served as The Normal Review’s faculty advisor since 2008. The professor said the publication’s century mark is a huge accomplishment.
Dr. David Galef, university English professor and The Normal Review faculty advisor. Thomas Boud | The Montclarion
“There’s no question,” Galef said. “I mean, there are professional magazines that don’t get anywhere near that, and it’s a record to be proud of.”
Galef said The Normal Review persists while traditional print periodicals decline.
“One main obstacle is the slow demise of magazines, period,” Galef cautioned. “My wife, for example, has been an editor and a writer for magazines for many years, as the magazines, one by one, take their slow descent into oblivion. This is a question of readership — 100 years is a long time. People’s reading habits change.”
Galef said the Normal Review’s perennial reign adds distinction to the journal’s history.
“You can point to a long continuity,” he said, contrasting his previous statement. “100 years, it’s quite considerable. It adds merit and stature to the magazine. It is a credit to the students. They’re the ones who run the magazine. I just oversee operations; though I try to do what I can at the end of every semester to copy-edit and proofread.”
The advisor further discussed the magazine’s history.
“[The Normal Review] has changed a lot over the years, inevitably,” Galef said. “What was a print publication, and I have plenty of issues, turned into all online. Now it’s back in print.”
Galef said the Normal Review faced different challenges over the years.
“[It] partly depends on funds from the SGA,” Galef said. “For a while, the English Department supported it. They had office space, then they didn’t. This has little to do with 100 years… except that, of course, you have your ups and downs.”
Dan Kary, senior, business major. Thomas Boud | The Montclarion
When asked, Dan Kary, a senior business major, said he was impressed with The Normal Review’s 100 years of existence. Kary noted that reaching the century mark is a difficult feat to accomplish.
“I don’t know a lot about literary magazines, but there’s a lot of things in general that don’t make it to 100 years,” Kary said. “I suppose that’s a lot… congratulations!”
Kary comparatively described the publication’s time-spanning presence.
“That’s longer than, people are alive,” Kary said. “So, anything that can last longer than people, that’s got to be impressive.”
