A “super launch” of the final issue of Rampike magazine will provide a fitting end to 36 years of publication, says editor and publisher Karl Jirgens, a UWindsor professor of English and creative writing.

He is retiring the journal to free up time for his own writing, but plans one final event Friday, October 16, at the Capitol Theatre, 121 University Avenue West.

“Rampike has published the Who’s Who of contemporary world literature,” says Dr. Jirgens, citing more than 4,500 pages in 55 issues. “It has featured contemporary art, theory, visual poetics, contemporary fiction, works by indigenous peoples, francophone writing, inter-media and digital works.”

The October 16 reception will begin at 8 p.m. and is open to the public as part of the BookFest Windsor literary festival. It promises free admission and free copies of the journal—including back issues—while they last.

Besides Jirgens, featured contributors include UWindsor alumni Robert Earl Stewart and Joanne Arnott; faculty members Louis Cabri, Tom Dilworth, Marty Gervais, Susan Holbrook, Nicole Markotić, Eugene McNamara and André Narbonne; local heroes Ellie Csepregi and Gustave Morin; with help from Jirgens’ stalwart student group Theatre Arachnid plus special out-of-town guest Gary Barwin.