We are pleased to announce the publication of the second issue of the Undergraduate Journal of Slavic and East/Central European Studies at the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of California, Los Angeles. This exciting issue treats a variety of subjects connected with Russian and East/Central European societies and cultures. This year we are fortunate to have five publications. Johana Fiserova’s Pubs in the Czech Republic: Simply a Gentleman’s Business explores the space of pubs in contemporary Czech society. Emilia Bogdanova Liberty’s Image and Themes of Mayakovsky in Bulgakov’s Works discusses the tension between Mayakovsky and Bulgakov as seen through the prism of Bulgakov’s works. Kenneth Martinez’s Solaris: Philosophy through Science Fiction examines Andrej Tarkovsky’s 1972 screen adaptation of the science fiction classic by the Polish writer Stanislaw Lem. Justine Miller’s Frames of the 2008 Russian Election compares several contemporary newspapers and their treatment of the 2008 Russian election. Finally, Corinne Seals’ From Russification to Ukrainisation: A Survey of Language Politics in Ukraine showcases the changing policies toward the Ukrainian language during both the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. We are grateful to all contributors and would like to extend a special thanks to Professors Olga Kagan, Roman Koropeckyj, and the Journal’s editor-in-chief Yelena Furman for bringing this project to fruition. We look forward to future submissions from undergraduate students interested in the literary, political, and social dynamics of Russia and East/Central Europe.