The Birch derives its name from the beloved national tree of Russia. Our magazine,established in 2004 at Columbia University, serves as a forum for undergraduatestudents to publish criticism and creative work on Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Ourjournal and the accompanying Birch blog give undergraduates with an interest inEastern European and Eurasian studies the unique opportunity to communicate thatinterest with a larger audience of interested students and academic bodies.