Letter From the Managing Editor

Kayla Johnson
Undergraduate/Political Science & Print Journalism

It's that time again. School's back in session, summer has turned to fall, and The Flip Side is back, ready for a whole new group of readers and writers.

You might be wondering, what exactly this Flip Side thing is that you have in your hands right now. Go ahead, flip through a few pages. Look through the articles, the poetry, the artwork. Notice that the material in here was created not by paid writers or artists, but by other students and community members just like you.

That is what this publication is. It's you. It is all your ideas, opinions, impressions, stories, and creativity all in one alternative publication. Of course with the content of this publication coming from such a diverse group, you never know what you might find in any given issue.

You might find that not everything in The Flip Side appears to be extremely well thought out, or in some cases, is just plain vulgar. In other cases what you're reading may turn out to be amazingly insightful, entertaining, or heart-wrenchingly sad.

I have heard some people complain about us being this way. They say it's stupid to print whatever people send us because then some things won't reach a certain standard in terms of quality or content, or we'll print things that maybe should not have been said at all.

Mostly, I find that those who hold this opinion do so because they don't agree with what's printed in here, or do not find value in what others have to say. At this time, I would like to point out that such individuals may reserve the right to turn the fucking page.

Publishing everything the way we do allows for a wide range of opinion and talent, and that is what free speech is about. If there's something you're itching to say, write it down—or draw it—and send it to us over at flipside@uwec.edu.

Every person has a unique perspective, and stifling voices because they don't fit a certain category or aren't as eloquent as others undermines the principles of free speech. The Flip Side is here to facilitate free speech, so if you have something to say, don't hesitate to send it to us.

- Kayla Johnson, Managing Editor, The
Flip Side