Inaugural issues are an odd lot and this particular entry is no exception. From the writings and photographs of MUSC students and faculty is assembled this literary journal, created from the meetings of the University Humanities Committee and funded by the Department of Health Administration and Policy and College of Health Professions. The original purpose of this journal was to provide an opportunity for the MUSC populous to define those things humanistic in character ( to paraphrase an early advertisement flyer); through paper and camera. Though arguably an expansive and imperfect set of guidelines, this statement best characterizes the aim of Humanitas.

Submissions were at all times reviewed with no knowledge of the work's author or photographer and final entries chosen democratically (in keeping with the spirit of the election season) by groups of four or five persons from the Humanities Committee. We ended up receiving entries from most of the various MUSC colleges and also some faculty members.

The content of this first issue is explained mostly by medical center geography. I guess the daily routines of all involved with MUSC inevitably include intrinsically important experiences with unique people, and these works mirror this fact. Death predictably seems to be a primary currency in our first issue. We will hope for a more optimistic sophomore effort!

Our plans for the future of Humanitas involve publishing at least one issue a year. Hopefully we'll see an increase in the number of submissions and an expansion of subject matter. I think that you'll find this journal to be at least enjoyable this time around and a publication that will consistently improve in quality as more people become aware of its presence.

Many thanks to the people who kindly submitted their work, to those who toiled on the various selection committees, to the Department of Health Administration and Policy for their support, and especially to Bert Keller and Carol Lancaster for their generous outlay of time spent and effort given.

Thanks for reading, Christopher Cox 10/10/96