Spring is rapidly approaching, and telltale signs can be seen all over campus. Flowers are blossoming on tree branches, the days are getting longer and the sun is shining more. But perhaps the catalyst of these is the return of Skyline College’s literary magazine, the Talisman.An annual spring fixture, the Talisman publishes student poetry, art, and short stories, as well as offering cash prizes in contests. Of the many years the publication has been in existence, this year stands out as special, as the magazine will be publishing its 35th edition, and faculty adviser, Katharine Harer could not be happier.”I really love doing it,” she said. “There’s a lot of creativity here, and that motivates us to want to highlight it.”While Harer has only been adviser for 10 years, she is just as dedicated as ever to keep the publication going. She likens the work to a labor of love that involves both faculty and student, without either, such an effort would not be bothered with. She is also helping the magazine overcome the financial obstacles that state budget cuts have caused.”[Budget cuts] have affected us, but the Language Arts department is really dedicated to putting the Talisman out,” she said. “My dean has assured me that they will put in the same amount [of money] they put in, in the past, which I was a little concerned about. I’m hoping that we can pull it together if the Associated Students is willing to help. They have helped in the past, and they’ve been so generous. Without the Associated Students, there wouldn’t be a magazine.”According to Harer, in the past the magazine has tried fundraising to pay for the publishing cost, which is approximately $3,000, and never got more than a few hundred dollars in return. Thus, the Talisman turned to the Associated Students of Skyline College for financial assistance. With the money from the ASSC and fundraising, the cost is no longer a problem.”It takes a lot of effort and a couple hundred dollars doesn’t work,” she said. “It’s really a combination of the Language Arts department, the Associated Students, and whatever little fundraising we can do around here. Sometimes English teachers have been really generous and have given me checks to help. Also, we get the printing done here at Skyline, so that cuts down a little on the cost.”Of course, money can only get the publication so far-it is the students that are the driving force. Without the tremendous effort put forth by the Talisman’s student editorial board, as well as the submissions of the student body itself, as Harer stated, there would be nothing to publish.”They’re usually very excited and very committed to doing it,” she said. “They learn a lot from doing it. The editorial committee works really hard, and a lot of times they don’t take the units because they don’t want to pay for the units. They’re really doing it on a volunteer basis.”Former editorial board member Nicole Yarbrough reiterated Harer’s sentiments about the level of student involvement, stating that the work is thoroughly rewarding.”I think that’s it’s a great opportunity for the community college and that it gives the editorial board lots of experience with stuff like writing, editing and designing,” she said. “We have to go through every piece, which is somewhat tedious, but it’s a great way to find talent.”According to Yarbrough, the editorial staff receives roughly 200 entries per volume, meticulously reads every piece, thus narrowing down the entries to over 40 pieces. Giselle Velazquez, a former recipient of honorable mention for a short story, thinks that the Talisman is essential for a college whose population is so diverse, yet so divided.”Skyline College is a commuter college, so it’s really hard to build up a sense of community here,” she said. “It’s real nice to have a bound volume of the different voices here. There’s a reason why it’s lasted this long. It’s something the campus really needs, and they don’t need to change it, because it works. I mean, I read it. Some of the things you read are weird, but they’re good weird.”Though this will be the 35th edition of the Talisman, Harer said the publication would be waiting until next year to celebrate the anniversary, as it will coincide with the 35th birthday of Skyline College.”For some reason, we’re a little off and we’re not sure why, but we know it’s our 35th time,” she said. “That way we can work together with them.”