Frequently Asked Questions


How do I write for Free Youth?/ What are your submission guidelines?

If you write it, consider it published! Send the article to jrussell@wnec.edu Or by postal mail to

Free Youth Box 1487 WNEC 1215 Wilbraham Road Springfield, MA 01119, USA

Dissenting opinions are welcomed.

Can I submit an article that has already appeared another publication?

Sure, increase it's circulation. Please just say what other publications it has appeared in and if someone else wrote it, be sure to get their permission.

What does the acronym FYI stand for?

Free Youth Internet. It's also a pun on the phrase "For Your Information".

When did FYI start?

FYI went online on May 27th, 1999.

I am a youth rights activist and I disagree with an article!

Thanks for your disagreement! FYI does not have a set agenda, it is a forum for discussion of the youth rights cause. All sides of the debate need to be presented. The best thing to do is write a rebuttal, letter or alternative article. Even if you disagree with the liberation of youth your input is invited, and will be published! Why do you provide links to opposing organizations? To present all sides of the issue. Free speach is everyone's First Amendment right, and alternative points of view need to be made available no matter how strong the disagreement . No one has the whole truth - examine both sides and then make the decision as to what is true for yourself.

Is FYI allied with any religious organization or political party?

FYI is an independant publication and will remain so, and is not a subcommitte of any larger organization. Respect is shown for all creeds, and contributing writers may support a candidate they feel he or she supports the cause of youth rights, or opposes it. If you're a Youth Rights organization, or at all related to cause, just send me your URL and I will add the link.

I disagree with an organization you have linked to!

The links page is list of organizations which proclaim that they support youth rights. "youth rights" is an abstract term with many different meanings, so organiations intepret it in a variety of ways. A common support for youth rights is more important than small differences in ideology. FYI is not responsible for the content of other pages. However if a page is blatantly offensive or otherwise does not belong on the list, Write to jrussell@wnec.edu and say why.

Who runs FYI?

Anyone who contributes runs it! As for the person who writes the HTML and replies to the e-mails, my name is James Russell. I'm seventeen and an unschooling student at WNEC. My personal homepage can be found here

What are some good books on youth rights?

Anything reviewed in the book section, but some especially good titles are The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewelynn, Escape from Childhood or anything else by John Holt, anything by Jonathan Kozol especially The Night is Dark and I am far from home.

What are some song lyrics and poems on youth rights?

Check out the lyric archive at http://www.oblivion.net/fyi/archive.html

How can I add my poem/song to the archive?

Send it to jrussell@wnec.edu and it will be published!

Why do you believe in nonviolence?

Because violence only begets more violence. As Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind". The great social changes of our century have been accomplished through peaceful protest, from Ghandi's "quit india" movement, to the Civil Rights movement in the US.

Can I reprint FYI articles?

Permision is granted for anything published in FYI can be republished anywhere, as long as permission is granted to m the original author credit is given to the original author and the text is left intact. Thanks for increasing our distribution! Quotes are fine too, but please do not take them out of context.

Can I submit in languages other than English?

Sure! If your language uses a non-latin (ASCII) charachter set please send the writing as a .gif or .jpeg file, also an English translation is helpful but not required.

How can I support FYI?

Write, publicize, organize and get the word out about youth rights! Since it's not incorporated FYI can't accept donations, but the greatest donation that can be given is interest and time. Help publicize FYI by printing out Business Cards and Stickers! Just insert the stickers in your printer and print this File in .Doc format.


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