Floodwall Magazine

Spring 2026

Introduction

Spring is officially here, and so is Floodwall 2.13, the latest issue of UND’s student-run literary magazine! After the . . . interesting . . . weather patterns we’ve had this season, it’s great to have a new issue to carry us through these transitional periods. We here at Floodwall are so excited to once again share the work of our incredible contributors with you all.

Speaking of transitions, this issue carries a bittersweet feeling for those of us on the masthead. It’s hard to believe so much time has passed since the last issue, but as the semester draws to a close, we find ourselves once again passing the baton to new editors and new ideas. Our two assistant managing editors, Azayla Sabin and Caius Buran, will become full co-editors this fall. The two of them have done a great job so far in learning the ropes and adapting to change, and we have no doubts that they’ll continue to do great things under the guidance of Floodwall’s advisors, Dr. Courtney Kersten and Dr. Patrick Henry. While we—Jasmine and Vern—may not have gotten a great deal of time to work on the magazine, we are incredibly thankful and proud of the work we’ve done with Floodwall. It has been a joy to interact with our community, contributors, and masthead to produce something that everyone can enjoy.

Our cover, a study from a series of artworks by Donnelly Fuglseth, explores romance and the complexity of emotional states through reference photos, intermeshed and woven together like a collage. As you turn the pages in this issue, you’ll see more of this collage of ideas and emotions come together; from musings on color, hauntings from ghosts good and bad, and visits from butterflies. As you journey through these pages, you’ll discover a true ode to the human experience.

As always, we’d like to give special thanks to our advisors for being incredibly helpful and answering our many, many questions. We'd also like to thank and acknowledge the wonderfully dedicated team we’ve worked with this year; our team of student readers, section editors, copyeditors, chief copyeditors, design and layout volunteers, and proofreaders are what make the world of Floodwall go ‘round. It truly would not be the same without them. Be sure to check out our masthead for the full list of volunteers.

Of course, our magazine would not be what it is without the trust and talent of our contributors. To those who’ve contributed, past and present, thank you for sharing your stories, your art, and your thoughts with Floodwall. Whether it was because a friend told you about us, or an instructor strongly recommended you submit work, or because you submitted to one of the scholarships (like the Thomas McGrath Award in Poetry, the John Little Fiction Scholarship, or the Gladys Boen Scholarship), we thank you all the same. Our favorite thing about this magazine is our privilege to work with so many diverse pieces and individuals. You guys rock, and we will miss these moments with you.

To you, dear reader: thank you for continuing to support our magazine. Although we may be leaving, we hope that you’ll continue to show up for our little community and share in the love of creation. Your support reminds us all why our work is so important.