The Undercurrent: August Announcements

[The Undercurrent]

The Undercurrent is now accepting submissions for its September issue. For more information, see http://the-undercurrent.com.

Also, if you'd like to keep informed of the latest TU news (distribution, forthcoming articles, etc.) and/or discuss article topic ideas, the scope and mission of our project, etc., we invite you to sign up for our new mailing list at Yahoo! Groups. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the-undercurrent/.

Regards,

The Undercurrent staff

[softwareNerd]

Interesting newsletter. How many universities get it, and in what numbers?

[The Undercurrent]

Interesting newsletter. How many universities get it, and in what numbers?

Hi SoftwareNerd,

For the first three issues we had an average of about 10,000 copies per issue. Our distribution numbers have grown with every issue—we started the first issue with four or five campuses on board, and for the most recent third issue we reached well over ten campuses. (For the upcoming fourth issue, we expect to reach over fifteen). Campuses we've distributed at include: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah Lawrence College, New York University, St. John's College, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Universty of North Carolina at Wilmington, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Southern California, Duke University, Lawrence University, Ashland University, Drexel University, and the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Toronto, the University of California Irvine, and Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas.

In general, campus clubs order between 200 and 1,000 copies, depending on the size of their school. Ordering one issue does not involve a commitment, so clubs are encouraged to try distributing the Undercurrent on as trial basis. We believe that it's a great way to make a large impact on students with relatively little work involved.

Thanks for your question and your interest,

Ray Girn

co-editor

[softwareNerd]

So, you publish it and folks at those Universities (Objectivists) buy them. Once they have (say) 250 copies, how do they typically distribute them? Is it "leafletted out" to passers-by around the college? Or is has someone attempted some other type of targetting ?

[The Undercurrent]

So, you publish it and folks at those Universities (Objectivists) buy them. Once they have (say) 250 copies, how do they typically distribute them? Is it "leafletted out" to passers-by around the college? Or is has someone attempted some other type of targetting ?

Hi SoftwareNerd,

The paper is of a size that can be leafletted out, but as far as I know most clubs do not use that method. Most distribute the paper by placing and replenishing copies at campus newsstands, libraries, and coffee shops. Many also hand out the paper at club events/lectures.

The Undercurrent is a new project so we're only beginning to explore the possibilities in terms of distribution. We have found that it is better to concentrate distribution in high-traffic areas than to spread the copies thin. (Also, it is less time-consuming to check on them and replenish once or twice a week than it is to try to cover every location on campus.)

We do insist that distributors follow the relevant campus rules. Students should contact campus facility management for clarification about their school's distribution policies. Additionally, they should be aware that often certain newsstands belong to specific papers and can't be used by the Undercurrent even if they are empty. Putting papers on the floor next to a newspaper rack is often a good alternative, but it's important to find out what's the likelihood a janitor will just come by in the evening and throw them out. (This too is the kind of thing the campus facility management office usually knows.)

Over time, the Undercurrent will develop more comprehensive distribution policies and suggestions. We're particularly looking out for ways in which distributing the Undercurrent can help clubs advertise their events (and in general bring attention to themselves). For instance, some campuses allow clubs to put newsletters into a package given to incoming freshmen; if so, that would be a great way for a club to use the Undercurrent to bring attention to itself and to Objectivism.

Anyone interested in making distribution suggestions, or otherwise discussing the paper, is encouraged to join the Undercurrent's announcement and discussion list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the-undercurrent/

Ray Girn,

Undercurrent Staff

www.the-undercurrent.com