It seems a new cause for some of Tufts' most active liberal students is, well, writing about liberal causes.
Editors say they created Radix, a political, arts and entertainment magazine, to report on campus, national, and international issues from a liberal perspective. In its first semester, editors say they will publish two issues.
While still awaiting official group status and a set budget from the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate, staff members have already begun work on their inaugural issue.
The staff hopes the magazine's budget will be large enough to allow them to publish monthly. But that may not be possible, since the Senate's budgeting for next year is almost complete. If no exception or extension is made for the magazine, Radix will be bound by the Senate's standard $1,000 new group cap.
"In my experience caps aren't overturned many times, because a lot of [Allocations Board] members feel a cap is there for a reason," TCU Senate Treasurer Michele Shelton said. "It's difficult to have the cap overturned, but not impossible."
The journal will be composed of columns, an arts section, and a feature spread covering current events that are relevant to Tufts students. The first issue will include a cover story on the topic of globalization, a review of President Bush's first 100 days in office, and an interview with an undisclosed celebrity. The political articles, poetry, art, book reviews, paintings, and editorials will all have a touch of the magazine's liberal slant.
Radix founders are affiliated with a number of campus organizations, including activist and culture groups and various other publications.
"This is a magazine of opinions and major topics of importance on the campus and in international politics," said sophomore Lou Esparza, the features editor, who also writes for the Observer.
Radix editors say their magazine is unique in both content and organization. There is no editor-in-chief and decisions are made by group consensus, without any voting process. The goal: to promote egalitarianism and inclusiveness, and avoid hierarchy.
"It's kind of socialistic," said sophomore Jesse Alderman, the political editor and a member of the Coalition for Social Justice and Nonviolence. The staff says it wants to produce a more diverse body of articles and features.
While The Radix will be geared primarily toward undergraduates, submissions from graduate students and faculty are welcome. "Anyone can get involved and does not need to have certain political beliefs," Esparza said.
Radix founders say that Tufts has an untapped demand for a liberal magazine and that it will not compete with The Primary Source, the University's right-wing political journal. And because it differs ideologically, editors are confident The Radix will publish different fare than that offered in The Primary Source. "The two are incomparable," Esparza said.
Editors on The Primary Source, which has published biweekly issues since 1982, say they are looking forward to some competition in the political arena, and hope that The Radix will raise issues that both publications can discuss. But Primary Source Editor-in-Chief Josh Martino seems skeptical as to whether TheRadix will last longer than other liberal journals, such as Submerge.
"That's their challenge," he said.
