Welcome to the first issue of The Flip Side, an alternative news and opinion outlet for the students of the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Our goal is to involve everyone on campus with their media, whether through writing articles, organizing the publication, or discussing and contemplating its content. We welcome all perspectives and hope for the expression of diversiform talents as we report news about society and politics. Our belief is that the uncensored presentation of news, the introduction of new ideas, and the constant pursuit of truth are inexaggerably important to participatory democracy and social change in America.

Everyone on campus deserves a voice and is encouraged to write articles for The Flip Side. Some students may choose to report on news or issues that they think deserve attention or further insight. Others may wish to express themselves or state their opinion on issues or events. Student organizations may want to inform people about their group or an event they have coming up. What specifically the students choose to write about in these areas is wide open. Basically, The Flip Side is whatever the students make it, and what that may be is just beginning to emerge.

There is still tremendous opportunity to participate and make The Flip Side a true student news magazine. Few of us currently involved have formal experience with journalism, but we learn by doing and have our common sense. The Flip Side offers all students, as part of a collective group with the willingness to work and pool resources together, the chance to be a reporter, write their own articles, express their opinion, and learn what journalism involves.

The possibilities for The Flip Side are endless and not limited by an institutional tradition of pre-professional journalism. While the established student newspaper on campus, The Spectator, often does what it does well, it should be challenged to do more. The true journalists in The Spectator, whether working towards a career in the field or not, will welcome such a challenge and try hard, as we will, to improve their work.

The fact is, the corporate controlled media in the United States is not challenging the people of this country to think. Although arguably their focus is on profit, they present information sensationalized in a way that may be somewhat exciting at times, but ultimately alienates people, and sustains fear, apathy, and the loss of hope. Moreover, the media is increasingly simplistic, moving towards conformity and consolidation, and whether you believe it or not it is moving towards the right. The Flip Side is here to locally reform the media from an alternative and independent angle that has the freedom to be shaped by all students and community members.

Many interesting ideas are in the works for upcoming issues of The Flip Side, such as publishing open letters to public figures and representatives, publishing old articles from past alternative presses on campus, writing contests, and investigative reporting on campus and in Eau Claire. Soon we will have a website with archived past issues. We will also accept Letters to the Editor, satirical articles, predictions of the future, historical articles, advice columns, cultural critiques, political arguments from all sides of the fence, editorial and comic strip cartoons, photos/graphics to accompany articles, and book/film/music reviews. Artists, you'll notice also the cover illustration--Andrew Werthmann did this one and will do others; we'll need more. Student organizations, departments, students, faculty, staff, and community members are all welcome to submit events, activities, or important dates to The Flip Side for inclusion into our calendar, free of charge.

In the near future when advertising revenue comes in The Flip Side will offer paid positions, as well as experiment with paying contributors two or three cents a word. There is no plan for the use of student segregated fees to pay for our newspaper now or in the near future as we know student budgets are tight and highly prioritized.

On Thursday, October 30th, The Flip Side is holding a get-together with a potluck sponsored by the PSA on the campus mall at 5:00pm. Everyone is welcome to come hang out around the fire, eat, and discuss the future of The Flip Side with students already involved. We hope you enjoy what we have come up with so far. Our next issue will circulate on the Wednesday two weeks from today. You have until Thursday, November 6th to submit an article or Letter to the Editor. Thank you.