The Ubyssey
Encyclopedia
The Ubyssey is the University of British Columbia's
student-run paper and is published every Monday and Thursday. Founded in 1918, The Ubyssey is a member of Canadian University Press
(CUP), and is the largest student run paper in Western Canada, second largest in Canada. Notable writers throughout its history include Pierre Berton
, John Turner
, Allan Fotheringham
, Michael Valpy
, Joe Schlesinger
, Danny Stoffman, Stephen Scobie
, Vaughn Palmer, Bruce Arthur, and Earle Birney
. Also alumuni are cartoonist Arn Saba
, journalist and author Katherine Monk, and photographer Jeff Wall
.
The Ubyssey suspended publication in the summer of 1993 when the University of British Columbia Alma Mater Society created a new "Publications Board" with power over the previously autonomous Ubyssey staff collective. The paper's staff eventually decided to work with the new board and resumed publication for the 1993–1994 school year, only to be suspended again. This longer suspension, lasting more than a year, occurred in the wake of the controversial parody
edition of March 30, 1994. The 1994 parody edition was a satire of the newspaper staff's own extreme positions and their often overwrought battles with the student union. The issue was roundly criticized by members of the Alma Mater Society, many of whom were satirized therein, and drew fire for an explicit photograph of male nudity. The student union voted to suspend publication indefinitely.
A group of UBC students, including former Ubyssey staff, organized a January, 1995 student referendum, which successfully led to an autonomous publication board, a $5 student fee, and the right for any student to "opt out" of paying the fee. The first issue of the new Ubyssey was July 13, 1995.
The Ubyssey is published twice a week during the regular school year. Though traditionally, Monday issues are a standard, university news-oriented edition while The Ubyssey Magazine or "Page Friday" was published Fridays, in recent years the paper has become more balanced in news and culture content and no longer discriminates between the two issues. Special issues are published throughout the school year, focusing on issues from the First Nation supplement to the Pride special edition. For the last issue of fall, The Ubyssey produces a satire issue in which the writers spoof The Ubyssey. Around April 1st, The Ubyssey staff parodies another newspaper or magazine. The 2008 parody was eSports Illustrator, spoofing the Electronic games in a sports illustrated format and in 2009 they published a parody fashion magazine called Selle.
Regular issues of The Ubyssey appear twice a week from September to April (not including during exams or the Christmas break). In 2009 they moved to a Monday/Thursday publishing schedule, from the original Tuesday/Friday. Historically, no issues were printed from May to June and sparsely throughout July and August, however in May 2011 an online editorial announced that summer issued would be published once every two weeks.
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
student-run paper and is published every Monday and Thursday. Founded in 1918, The Ubyssey is a member of Canadian University Press
Canadian University Press
Canadian University Press is a non-profit co-operative and newswire service owned by almost 90 student newspapers at post-secondary schools in Canada. Founded in 1938, CUP is the oldest student newswire service in the world and the oldest national student organization in North America. Many...
(CUP), and is the largest student run paper in Western Canada, second largest in Canada. Notable writers throughout its history include Pierre Berton
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
, John Turner
John Turner
John Napier Wyndham Turner, PC, CC, QC is an English Canadian lawyer and retired politician, who served as the 17th Prime Minister of Canada from June 30 to September 17, 1984....
, Allan Fotheringham
Allan Fotheringham
Allan Fotheringham is a Canadian newspaper and magazine journalist. He is widely known by the nickname Dr. Foth and styles himself as, "Always controversial... never at a loss for words" and also as "the Great Gatheringfroth".-Life:Fotheringham attended Chilliwack Secondary School, where he was...
, Michael Valpy
Michael Valpy
Michael Granville Valpy is an award-winning Canadian journalist and author. He writes for the Globe and Mail newspaper where he made his reputation on both political and human interest stories...
, Joe Schlesinger
Joe Schlesinger
Joe Schlesinger is a veteran Canadian journalist who for four decades has reported for CBC Television News from every corner of the world. Born in Vienna in 1928, Schlesinger was raised in Czechoslovakia. In 1939, after Hitler dismembered the country, Joe's parents sent him for safety to England...
, Danny Stoffman, Stephen Scobie
Stephen Scobie
Stephen Scobie is a Canadian poet, critic, and scholar.Born in Carnoustie, Scotland, Scobie relocated to Canada in 1965...
, Vaughn Palmer, Bruce Arthur, and Earle Birney
Earle Birney
Earle Alfred Birney, OC, FRSC was a distinguished Canadian poet and novelist, who twice won the Governor General's Award, Canada's top literary honor, for his poetry.-Life:...
. Also alumuni are cartoonist Arn Saba
Arn Saba
Katherine Shannon Collins , formerly Arn Saba, is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, media personality, stage performer, and composer.- Early works :...
, journalist and author Katherine Monk, and photographer Jeff Wall
Jeff Wall
Jeffrey "Jeff" Wall, OC, RSA is a Canadian artist best known for his large-scale back-lit cibachrome photographs and art-historical writing. Wall has been a key figure in Vancouver's art scene since the early-1970s...
.
The Ubyssey suspended publication in the summer of 1993 when the University of British Columbia Alma Mater Society created a new "Publications Board" with power over the previously autonomous Ubyssey staff collective. The paper's staff eventually decided to work with the new board and resumed publication for the 1993–1994 school year, only to be suspended again. This longer suspension, lasting more than a year, occurred in the wake of the controversial parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
edition of March 30, 1994. The 1994 parody edition was a satire of the newspaper staff's own extreme positions and their often overwrought battles with the student union. The issue was roundly criticized by members of the Alma Mater Society, many of whom were satirized therein, and drew fire for an explicit photograph of male nudity. The student union voted to suspend publication indefinitely.
A group of UBC students, including former Ubyssey staff, organized a January, 1995 student referendum, which successfully led to an autonomous publication board, a $5 student fee, and the right for any student to "opt out" of paying the fee. The first issue of the new Ubyssey was July 13, 1995.
The Ubyssey is published twice a week during the regular school year. Though traditionally, Monday issues are a standard, university news-oriented edition while The Ubyssey Magazine or "Page Friday" was published Fridays, in recent years the paper has become more balanced in news and culture content and no longer discriminates between the two issues. Special issues are published throughout the school year, focusing on issues from the First Nation supplement to the Pride special edition. For the last issue of fall, The Ubyssey produces a satire issue in which the writers spoof The Ubyssey. Around April 1st, The Ubyssey staff parodies another newspaper or magazine. The 2008 parody was eSports Illustrator, spoofing the Electronic games in a sports illustrated format and in 2009 they published a parody fashion magazine called Selle.
Regular issues of The Ubyssey appear twice a week from September to April (not including during exams or the Christmas break). In 2009 they moved to a Monday/Thursday publishing schedule, from the original Tuesday/Friday. Historically, no issues were printed from May to June and sparsely throughout July and August, however in May 2011 an online editorial announced that summer issued would be published once every two weeks.