The Bellwether Review started 30 years ago in 1996. Originally dubbed The Rock Creek Review, the journal used to be staffed by Rock Creek faculty members. The Rock Creek Review was renamed The Bellwether Review in 2011 with the inception of the Advanced Creative Writing, Editing, and Publishing course. The word “bellwether” is rooted in 15th century European farming culture; it referred to the lead sheep in a flock—a sheep who's been given a bell collar to signal the herd and guide them in a new direction. Today, the term more commonly refers to any person in a group who takes initiative and sets trends. Editors chose this word to symbolize the artistic drive of writers and artists leading the way in creative expression.