fishladder
grand valley state university's student journal of art and writing
fish • lad • der [noun]
a series of pools built like steps to enable fish to bypass waterfalls or dams.
There is a fish ladder on the west side of the Grand River that allows fish like salmon and steelhead to move upstream, past the Sixth Street dam, toward Lansing. The structure features a viewing deck for visitors to watch the fish travel upstream.
note from the editor
Welcome to fishladder,
At fishladder, our mission is to lift up all student voices from a variety of disciplines, perspectives, and backgrounds. This journal exists because of YOU—our writers, artists, readers, students. Your creativity, passion, and voice are what make fishladder come to life issue after issue, and we want to share and showcase your work. And so, I thank you all for being here.
This year marks 22 years of fishladder, and we’re excited to continue highlighting the incredible student work within Grand Valley’s student body, and we're grateful to be a part of your educational and creative journey.
I hope that fishladder provides a safe and encouraging space for you to share your truths and talents. Whether that's through a beautiful piece of oil on canvas, your favorite photograph from the past summer, a thoughtfully written story about your childhood classroom, or lyrical poem about wandering the woods, we want to see it all!
(Applications to join the fishladder staff are now closed. Submissions for fishladder are now open through December 14th. Please contact editor-in-chief, Angelina Firmalan, with any questions or issues submitting at fishladderjournal@gmail.com.)
On behalf of all of us here at fishladder, we’re excited to work with you on crafting this year’s issue.
All the best,
Angelina Firmalan, editor-in-chief
