I have had a wide variety of interesting and challenging assignments during my years as a professor and university administrator, but editing this premier issue of Kaleidoscope has been particularly enjoyable and rewarding. The distinguished editorial board has provided excellent advice and support, both on the general conception of the journal and on soliciting and reviewing specific contributions. The University administration — the President, Provost, and Associate Provost — have been enthusiastically supportive of the concept and the development of Kaleidoscope. Professor David Atwood, a long-time champion of undergraduate research, kindly volunteered to contribute the article on the involvement of undergraduates in his research laboratory. The student authors and their mentors have all been totally cooperative and helpful in preparing the published versions of their works. And, our production staff members — Teresa Shear, graphic designer/production coordinator; Evie Russell, administrative assistant; and UK sophomore Zach May, Web designer/programmer — are outstanding. Their product speaks for itself.

It has always been my intention to be as inclusive as possible in the range of materials and disciplines published in Kaleidoscope. Therefore, from the start we have planned an electronic version of the journal as well as the more traditional print version. In that manner we will be able to publish materials that would not otherwise be available, for example, the entire text of a Gaines thesis, a number of art works, a musical performance, or a “walk-through” of an architectural design. The Web version of this issue of Kaleidoscope contains additional and expanded versions of the articles and illustrations from the paper journal. It also contains links to other related materials, and forms for feedback. We would be particularly interested to hear your reactions to any aspect of the journal or to any of the articles.

The largest part of my pleasure in editing this journal comes from the superb contributions by the student authors. Jackie Goins’ maps are well designed and instructive. They show clearly, in just two images, an enormous amount of information about four years of war in the Pacific. Allison Perry’s delightful story about a young woman’s struggle to get up the courage to introduce herself to a young man in her class is written beautifully. It is a joy to read. Karla Conn’s description of the improvements that she made to the “smart” wheelchair is clear and understandable, and it provides further evidence of our students’ continuing concern with turning their knowledge and skills to benefit others.

The two remaining pieces, Jessica Couch’s personal reflection and Finn Green’s abstract from his Gaines thesis, are concerned with adolescent alcoholism and substance abuse. There may be no more timely issue for the current generation of students. National statistics on substance abuse, particularly alcohol, among college students are extremely alarming and do not seem to be improving. I did not solicit articles specifically on this subject, but I am very pleased to have two such powerful pieces to include in this first issue of Kaleidoscope. They are both deeply moving in their personal testimonies to the effects of substance abuse on young people, perhaps because they are both so well written and tell their stories in the first person.

I am extremely proud of this first issue of Kaleidoscope and I hope that you enjoy reading it. The success of this journal rests upon the outstanding undergraduate students at UK and their mentors. I hope that each of you will consider submitting your best work or that of your students for possible publication in future issues. A call for papers is included in the back of this issue.