One of my favorite Continuum covers (Summer 2003) sports the image of the U’s pole vault record-holder Brooke LoBue MEd’03, which shows her kneeling, in repose, the pole resting atop her shoulders like a spear. I like it for its simplicity and soft chiaroscuro lighting, and because it symbolizes how far women have come in sports since the passage of Title IX, the 1972 amendment requiring schools that receive federal funds to offer equal opportunities to men and women alike, and the focus of the issue’s feature story, “Entitled to Play.” The image indicates that it’s okay for women to be fit, well-muscled, and on equal footing with men. It suggests that women don’t have to strive to achieve the anorexic, half-starved, bored-blasé look of a runway fashion model; rather, it conveys the idea that a well-toned body—and mind—hold greater interest for smart women of today.

—Linda Marion BFA’67 MFA’71, managing editor

I love the cover and the feature story of the Summer 2002 issue, “Desert Delusions,” because water-use issues are so important in the West, and particularly in Utah, which is the second-driest state in the country (after Nevada) yet the second-highest consumer of water. Issues around sane and sustainable water use are incredibly important for us in this region to visit again and again, and I like the way the image in the drop of water suggests the grim potentiality of death actually contained in a verdant landscape whose climate can’t sustain it. The drop of water could also be taken to be a teardrop, further evoking the sad fact of the limits of water in the West and the fate of communities that refuse to acknowledge those limits.

—Marcia C. Dibble, assistant editor

I’ve always been partial to the Winter 2002-2003 cover. Aesthetically, it may not be the most appealing cover for some readers, but this one has a power that hits me right in the gut every time I look at it. I have always loved the emotion and immediacy conveyed by photojournalistic styles. The story itself tells of the U’s efforts—through the Bennion Center and others—to fight poverty, and I can think of no higher calling for the University or its graduates. I keep this cover tacked on the wall over my desk as a reminder of three things: 1) I’ve had three hot meals and a good night’s sleep, but too many people in this country—particularly children—have not; 2) it won’t hurt a thing to make covers and cover stories like this obsolete by tackling poverty issues any way I can; and 3) if something in Continuum—whether photo or text—moves a reader in the same way this photo moves me, then I’ve done my job.

—Jason Matthew Smith, editor

Having to select my favorite Continuum cover is a daunting task, and one I find impossible to do—like trying to pick a favorite from among my three kids. As the art director of the magazine for the past 13 years, I find that each cover holds a special memory, not just in regard to the final outcome but to the entire process. My favorite cover would be one that was rich in concept, expertly executed, and enticed the reader to dive into the feature story. We have been fortunate to find local talent of the highest caliber to fit within those parameters. For photography, Skip Schmiett has always brought his “A” game to the table. Brett Colvin, Brad Nelson, and Terry Newfarmer also rose to the occasion. For illustration we tapped into a cache of talent that is unmatched by any standard—artists such as Perry Stewart, Cary Henrie, Rob Adamson, Scott Snow, Chris Peterson, Robert Neubecker, Don Kilpatrick, and Alex Nabaum, to name a few. So many great covers and so many great memories. No, I don’t think I’m capable of selecting a favorite from among my kids.

—Randall Royter, art director