Hello there, young squirrel. My name's Isabel. I started this site back in
2001, and have yet to complete it. So be
forewarned that half the site is missing content. I'm aware that I need to update, but I now have a life and I'm firmly
entrenched in what sociologists are coining "the quarter life crisis." So, when I turn 30 and I suddenly win the
lottery, I'll do something about this and I'll let you know.
Some obligatory facts about me- I joined the Oblivion team back in 1998, and have been a contributing (albeit sporadic)
member ever since. Most of us are firmly hitting our early and mid-20's, so considerable time has passed since the
launch of Oblivion and all things youth-rights related. I got out of the miserable, seventh circle of Hell known as
"high school" in 1998, and went on to complete a Bachelor's degree in Law & Society from UCSB in 2002. I earned a paralegal certification in the Attorney Assistant Program from
UCLA exactly a year later in 2003. I now work as a certified paralegal for an
intellectual property firm, and yes, in case you're wondering, I plan to attend law school in a few years so I can join
the millions of Americans out there in several thousand dollars of debt.
What does all this filler crap about my
educational background mean? Jack shit, really. But I thought you'd like to know that I'm not pulling most of the
material here out of my ass.
My interest in First Amendment issues led me to run a controversial underground newspaper
back in high school entitled "Pandora's Box," one that shook up the very
foundations of
Alhambra High and proved to
be a life changing experience for all those involved in its
making. I hope, by this website, to give you advice on how to start your own
paper and
avoid the many pitfalls I faced back when I was a high school student.
A few things to say, before we proceed:
- The legal material here is based on United States case law. If you're from another country (I've
received email from a student in New Zealand), I really
can't help you.
- This site is meant for a high school audience, which means I will try my best to
break down concepts and terms.
- I am absolved of all liability in terms of what you may do with the
information here. I am not authorized by law to give legal advice. If you're in legal trouble, consult a lawyer. I
am only a paralegal, or legal assistant, and as such, far from an authority! Take the information here and use
your own judgment.
Keep in mind that this guide is only to aide you in your journey to running a successful underground paper. Half of what
I say is COMMON SENSE stuff, based on personal experience, observation, and intuition.
With that out of the way, I hope this proves to be a valuable resource for you or a starting
point in which you exercise your First Amendment rights, responsibly, and with
integrity.
I am open to receiving suggestions, criticism, questions, and anecdotes, so don't hesitate
to drop me a line. If I make an error in
information somewhere, let me know!
