So who are we, really?
LETTER FROM THE

 

 

 

 

We're back! Hopefully you'll enjoy this special May
edition of The Other Press, because if you don’t, you'll
have to wait an entire month before you get another. Yes,
‘sadly the good ol’ OP can only afford to publish once a
month in the so-called “summer” (only in the academic
world does the summer begin in May), but don’t worry!
We try to compensate the — quantity by improving
on the quality.

As I mentioned in the April issue, ‘the Other Press had

its big fancy Annual General Meeting earlier last month.
\ n AGM, —_ ee ae — but

EDITOR

still a significant event none the less. We changed
our constitution a bit, brainstormed ideas for the
future, elected a new board of directors, and so
much more.

It occurs to me, however, that 1 probably just
lost a lot of you with that last bit. AGM, what?
Board, who? Constitution, wha? Why does a
student newspaper have any of these things? And
why should you care? I’ve worked at the Other
Press for six years now, so it’s sometimes easy
for me to take a lot of this stuff for granted. But
for new students just joining the college today, or
even for veterans who have just never thought to
learn, maybe a little Other Press 101 is in order.

This fine newspaper was founded in 1976,
six years after Douglas College opened. It’s
called The Other Press as a result of an obscure
feud. According to lore, there was at one time
a newspaper at this school called “the Press,”
but everyone hated them, so a gang of rebels
eventually got together, founded “The Other
Press,” and crushed them. By then it was 1976.

For the first two years of its existence, The
Other Press was funded by the Douglas College
student union, which needless to say was not an
ideal relationship. How can you speak truth to
power if the powers that be are the ones dictating
your yearly budget? So in 1978 we officially
separated, and registered our newspaper as an
independent and autonomous group on campus.
The College administration now funds us directly,

_ via a student fee that is taken from all students

as part of your tutition (Fun fact—if you really

hate this newspaper you can technically ask me

for your fee back and Pm legally ee to
provide it).

May 5, 2008

 

Society,” which is nominally a non-profit
organization that exists to foster journalistic
excellence at Douglas College. As editor, I’m
also chairman of that organization.

Being a fully registered BC “society” brings
with it various legal perks and benefits, but
also responsibilities. We must be governed by
a democratic board of directors and make all of
our financial statements and meeting minutes
accessible to our shareholders, which in our case
means you—the students. If we ever want to
increase our budget, we must likewise ask you
guys for consent. We exist at your expense, after
all, so it’s only fair. And finally, once a year we
must hold an annual general meeting, open to
everyone, in which all of our plans, visions, and
significant policy decisions for the coming year
are made in a fair and transparent manner.

So that’s The Other Press in a nutshell,
a rather complex organization that exists for
a rather simple purpose—to churn out a half-
decent school newspaper every week (or month,
as the case may be). I may personally think that
this newspaper is the greatest thing since frosted
Pop- Tarts, but it’s always important to remember
that this paper doesn’t exist to do what I want,
it exists to serve you. Always be aware of your
rights as a fee-paying shareholder of the OP, and
if something is happening that you don’t approve
of, our are just curious about, don’t be afraid to
exercise your rights and get involved. Attend our
meetings. Read our constitution. Demand to see
our budget. As a paper founded on the right to
independence and autonomy, we would expect
nothing less.

Today, as it says in the iy little spiel oa

the opposite page, The Other Press is a registered
society under the Society Act of British Columbia.

We're registered as the “Other Publications

: J. ee McCullough

Editor i in Chief of the Other Press

The Other Press is H RI NG!

do you want fo be our next:

-Layout Co-ordinator
-Editor in Chief

All jobs pay well and are tons of fun. Gain experience and expand your horizons

-Graphics Editor

APPLY TODAY!

email resumes to
editor.otherpress@gmail.com