by Breanna Adamick

A couple weeks ago, Greensboro College received a generous gift of 150 copies of “The Atlantic Monthly” from the prestigious magazine itself. For those unaware, “The Atlantic Monthly” is an American journal of news, literature and opinion created in Boston by Moses Dresser Phillips and Francis H. Underwood over 150 years ago. The first issue was published in November of 1857 and the journal rapidly garnered attention for the quality of the writing as well as the notable names associated with contributing, such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe and later on even Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Booker T. Washington, as coverage of political matters was added. Over its many years, this magazine has won more National Magazine Awards than any other monthly magazine.  

The copies of the magazine we have received are “The Atlantic Monthly’s” January and February 2024 combined issue, with the theme for the topics of discussion centered around “If Trump Wins.” Inside the issue, there are various articles by a multitude of authors all set from the vantage point of what could happen if Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election. Topics include autocracy, misogyny, immigration, climate, journalism, civil rights and much more, for a total of 24 articles on the subject of a specific outcome of the election. This issue is framed by “The Atlantic” to be something of a consideration and defense of the United States’ democratic republic, rather than an attack on the Republican party specifically. So, while the issue discusses a prominent topic in a completely one-sided manner, its intention is not to alienate or infuriate those who hold different views.  

Along with the numerous copies, “The Atlantic Monthly” included a written statement of their intent behind sending the magazines to Greensboro College, expressing that their goal is to further educate and spark conversation on the topics discussed. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Dan Malotky, remarked, “Even if we find things in [the magazine] that we really strongly disagree with, “The Atlantic” is a publication that is serious-minded. They do not just write whatever,” he stated, “and actually, there are some very prominent Republicans that are writing in this issue. So, whether we end up agreeing with them or not, I think we need to take them seriously.” 

In distributing copies of “The Atlantic Monthly” around campus, the hope is that we as a community can open this highly controversial topic up for debate, aiming for a respectful and thought-provoking discussion that could likely lead to a deeper understanding of both sides of the situation. “Our intent is not to tell people what to believe, but instead to get people thinking about it,” stated Dr. Malotky, speaking on behalf of Greensboro College administration. 

It is my recommendation to get a copy of this magazine before they are gone, as it features an engaging and highly relevant topic of discussion from many different perspectives and angles. To pick up your own copy of “The Atlantic Monthly,” look for The Collegian racks in each building, where we will have copies of the magazine as well as the most recent Collegian newspaper for your perusal. If, after reading your own copy of the magazine, you feel the desire to share your opinion on the content and topic, we at The Collegian would love to hear it. Feel free to send a letter to the editors via email with your take on these topics of discussion.