In the Hobart Park office on the fourth floor of the Alvarez College Union, Abby True ‘25 often finds herself sifting through various floppy disks and old compositions of publication content from the ‘80s and ‘90s. As co-editor-in-chief of the Davidson literary and artistic magazine, alongside Sofia Cimballa ‘26, she is responsible for fostering artistic creativity among students on campus.
True’s first days with Hobart Park during her freshman year at Davidson consisted of countless hours of curating student work as a verse apprentice. “I would read student submissions, edit submissions, work with writers, and refine their work,” True described.
Outside of this role, she has spent each year writing for the magazine since joining the publication in 2022. She values the dedication behind the scenes and the tenacity of the students who are part of it. “I’m trying with Hobart Park to re-emphasize the value of non-academic work,” she said.
True also believes that Hobart Park has a unique position as one of the few truly artistic publications on campus. “We are a student literature magazine that highlights student art and writing [but also] the value of non-academic work that’s not about getting the award or grade and just about self-expression.”
Outside of an appreciation for artistic expression, True admires the physicality of Hobart Park’s work. “It feels nice to have a physical book that somebody printed out and bound,” she explained. As Davidson and the rest of the world continue to adapt to a more digital sphere, Hobart Park rests on decades of student commitment to highly personal and present intellectual engagement. These copies are a reminder that, unlike the countless pages of writing found online, Hobart Park offers a window into the creative faculties of fellow students—as present and abounding as the books themselves. “It is nice to have that physical copy. The fact that somebody had to print and bind those copies together adds a legitimacy and a value to the art that I don’t think is there if you are just scrolling through Instagram or something like that,” True added.
Cimballa finds the openness of Hobart Park to be one of her favorite parts of the magazine. “I love how this project brings together student art across grades and across all corners of campus,” she stated. “It creates a really interesting archive of an annual, formal artistic production.” The process of assembling Hobart Park balances fostering a vulnerable, diverse and productive space that embraces creativity and high standards of quality. Before publication in the spring, groups of five to six student editors thoroughly study submissions for fit. By not catering to themes, the authentic happenings of student thought are represented in each publication, creating what Cimballa calls a “time capsule on campus.”
Cate Goodin ‘26, an arts editor for Hobart Park, feels a similar appreciation for the work. “One of the most interesting parts of working with that aspect of the magazine is seeing common themes throughout students’ work [regardless] […] [Curating] art is really really interesting because you can see where there’s overlap and where people are doing vastly different styles,” Goodin explained.
True echoed Goodin’s sentiments. “Hobart Park is naturally committed to some kind of progress but in art form. I hope that in the future it maintains its commitment to the archive and its celebration of student art.”
Looking ahead, True hopes to expand Hobart Park’s place in the campus zeitgeist. The magazine has expanded into holding open Nummit tabs and annual spelling bees. “We stand for that kind of playful spirit but also that commitment to literature and language,” she commented.
In the midst of the current publication cycle, True reflected on her hopes for the future of Hobart Park. “I would like it to be more involved on campus as a physical presence. I think a lot of people [only have] an off-hand idea of what Hobart Park is,” she said. When asked about future plans for the magazine, True was eager to share. “This year we are launching a bit of a rebrand, going back to the original logo and some new colors to kind of refresh the whole thing. In form it hasn’t really changed. For its entire run it’s been a yearly compilation of student writing” she said.
Past generations of Hobart Park leaders still appreciate the magazine today. “My favorite part was getting to read everyone’s stuff. In day-to-day life you forget that you’re around people who create awesome art,” former Co-Editor-in-Chief Ephi Light ‘25 shared. “[Hobart Park is] one of the only things at Davidson that’s a physical representation of what we create everywhere. It’s a yearbook of art that’s permanent. You get to be part of the voice on campus in a different way through actually creating something and leaving a legacy of art—which feels important these days.”
Through Feb. 21, Hobart Park is accepting submissions for its 2025 publication. If you have poetry, prose or art you want the community to see, submit by then!
Katriel Sander ‘27 is an intended public health major from Zirconia, NC and can be reached for comment at
