Why Start One?

From Izzy's Guide to Starting and Running an Underground Paper

So Why Start One? Before you start, ask yourself the reasons why you want to start one. You need a basic theme or position in which to support your publication, especially since I guarantee it will come under both praise and attack. Your critics will most notably point out why there is a need for an alternative publication when one already established and supported by school funding exists? Why not work with them under their guidelines than do this, they'll ask? What makes your paper unique compared to theirs?

You probably think one or several of the following...

• The world is a lousy place and we should all die; that's how you feel and you want everybody to know.

• Your teacher doesn't know his head from his asshole and you want everyone to know of his incompetencies.

• The school cafeteria is so low-grade and greasy, it gives you the shits everyday. You want them to allocate more school funds to change this.

• The school social hierarchy needs criticism.

• The student body council does not adequately reflect the interests of the students. They think they're somebody, you think they're sheep.

• You think we (meaning the masses, minus you) are all sheep. Fuck school spirit, and fuck conformity.

• You know of some corruption/scandal in the faculty.

• You think things are just fucked up, goddamnit.

• Favoritism sucks and stupid policies need to be changed.

• Someone's embezzling from school funds.

I started my newspaper because the school's newspaper was a poor representation of the students, more of a representation of its advisor. Ms. Tamanaha, or "Ms. T" as we all called her, was a sweet conservative lady who thought anything meriting an opinion would have deterimental effects on the school. She had no understanding of the First Amendment.

Mostly, I had the worst case of teenage angst and I hated everybody. I hated the school system, I hated the mindless preoccupation of my peers with pop culture, and I hated their apathy and ignorance. They had no interest in changing the world, while I formulated grandiose dreams in my head everyday about making a difference somewhere. I abided by their social barriers and rules, but not without a lot of self-loathing inside.

If the above sounds like you, then don't worry: You're in the same boat as the next lost soul who has frequented this site in search of advice and answers. But let me tell you something that I wish somebody had told me before I embarked on my little publication adventure: Keep your feet grounded. Meaning, be realistic. You think too big, and you'll find your dreams squashed at your feet.

People aren't going to suddenly wake up and go, "Ohmygod, all the stuff you've said in here is BRILLIANT! You're so RIGHT! Now I CARE about the ozone layer, saving the whales, the next school election, and wiping my ass!" Apathy is a social disease, and it runs rampant with your peers. So be forewarned, and don't expect a huge reform to take place.

Before you start anything, sit down and brainstorm. Ask yourself what it is you want to achieve. What are your goals? How far do you expect this will go? It wouldn't hurt to write down your objective or mission statement. Doing this helps you and your staff organize and focus.