This fall 2016 edition of New Plains Review has been a combined effort of diverse talents by each of our hardworking student editors. The various perspectives and voices from our contributors in this edition echo concerns within our culture today. To commemorate not only the 30th anniversary of New Plains Review, but also the First Nation heritage, which is integral to the cultural vibrancy of Oklahoma, we have used the artwork of John McCluskey to compliment the diverse ideas expressed in the poetry and prose we have selected. It is our mission to empower writers and artists from varying cultures and backgrounds, and we have strived to accomplish this with every issue over the last 30 years. Along with this we have considered where New Plains Review first started in 1986, and the growth that occurred since. The publishers of the first issue said, "With zeal and reason, we provide an evocative forum wherein issues of concern to all fields of humanities may be discussed." We hope to honor that enterprise with this issue. On behalf of the English Department, College of Liberal Arts, University of Central Oklahoma, we are pleased to present to you the 30th anniversary edition of the New Plains Review.