An uncensored, independent publication of the students of Tri-State University

The issues!
To view THE RAG in all its glory, select an issue here....
 

THE RAG's Editorial Policy
Unlike some student newspapers, we actually PRINT the articles and letters students send us:

THE RAG is an independent, uncensored, student-run and student-written publication. It has no official publishing schedule and is produced when enough news and articles are available to warrant publication.
THE RAG welcomes anonymous and signed articles, letters to the editor, and other submissions. While we value free expression and will not impose ideological censorship on our publication, THE RAG will only publish materials that comply with federal and state laws, and reserves the right to reject submissions or edit them for clarity and/or space. Typewritten submissions and images can be sent to therag@cexx.org. ANONYMOUS SUBMISSIONS ARE WELCOME.

• No Personal Attacks

Submissions should be of campus-wide or at least general relevance. Debate is fine and good, but THE RAG is not a forum to anonymously slander your enemies or air your personal grievances with your roommate, etc. Not only is it rude, nobody wants to read Joe and Bob bickering back and forth.


• No Names
Most of the submissions we have received, we have received anonymously. If your article references a specific person or group of people, please do them a favor and not name them without asking them first. The editor(s) reserve the right to change or remove names to protect the innocent/guilty. "Public Figures" on campus, such as professors and administration, generally may be named in submissions, but the editorial staff reserve the right to remove these names as well.
 

• Proofread!
In order to keep things readable while most accurately reflecting the author's original intentions, the editoral staff will attempt to correct simple spelling or grammatical errors, but that's about it. Whether your submission is anonymous or signed, it cannot be assumed that the editorial staff will take the time to hunt you down and ask for clarification if a severe grammatical error in your submission prevents the editors from understanding what you're trying to say. Nor is it the editors' job to double-check all your statements for accuracy, timeliness, etc...remember, this is not a newspaper. THE RAG's staffers are students too, and probably have better things to do. If known errors are present, corrections will be inlined after your article. If a severe factual error is found after publication, a correction will be made in the next issue.
 

• Profanity
Please try to keep it civil. Keep in mind that certain high-ups would like nothing better than to have an excuse to rip down controversial publications. Foul language can serve as an apt scapegoat when someone doesn't want to admit to silencing legitimate debate.
 

• Articles vs. Letters
Articles should be marked as such and include a brief title and (optionally) tagline beneath them. Articles should be of general interest, and not direct replies to previous articles. Articles published in THE RAG should not be about THE RAG--there aren't many publications that write articles about themselves, and when they do, it tends to sound moronic and self-serving. Any of the aforementioned materials should be sent as letters. THE RAG's layout editor reserves the right to change submissions from articles to letters and vice versa.

The 5 W's!
The story of THE RAG.

WHAT (is this abomination of our Midwestern values)?

THE RAG is an independent student newsletter published by one or more students of Tri-State University. An "underground newspaper", if you will. For obvious reasons THE RAG is not, and probably never will be, supported by the University in any way, shape or form. There is no official publication schedule; a new issue is unveiled when we get enough ranting and raving from the student body to scrape together into a paper.
THE RAG is published on authentic 8.5 x 11 printer paper (inkjet--nice!) and posted in the dorms where just about everybody is guaranteed the ability to share in the experience, at least until University staff rip 'em all down (more on this later!)  The electronic version is available on this Web site and sometimes contains material omitted from the print version due to space limitations.

Come on, do you really think the "offical" student newspaper would print stories like this? In the third notch of the Bible Belt, you can expect the atmosphere to be a tad restrictive. With the demise of WEAX and new anti-publication rules in the dorms, not many avenues remain for student expression. Our goal is to tell it like it is, providing a student outlet for all the controversial and unpopular views that could otherwise sit in the cranial cavity and fester. THE RAG has one additional goal, though--to be worth reading. The "official" newspaper reads, well, like a newspaper. That's fine if you really want to know who the newest members of XYZ Fraternity are or why you're not a good enough Christian, or some fluffy article about why the costly renovations of such-and-such dorm (now renamed to "J. Random Suchandsuch Memorial Dorm Facility") are necessary and beneficial to students instead of a creative way to sell more edifice namespace while wasting many a tuition dollar in the process. Plus, THE RAG doesn't turn your fingers black!

Whomever the heck they want, as long as it's not us. It's called the First Amendment! THE RAG values the anonymity of its editors, writers and contributors and will not disclose identities at the request of University officials.

For obvious reasons, nobody would like to get busted for being so subversive and free-thinking in the midst of the Flat Earth Society and its evil influences. Considering that the first dorm-wide publication of THE RAG had a lifespan of ~ 12 hours, there are certain parties that hold such things in low esteem.

THE RAG is laid out on a privately-owned computer somewhere in the state of Indiana. It is printed on a privately-owned inkjet printer somewhere in the state of Indiana. Articles are written by the Editors and students somewhere in...you get the idea.

THE RAG does not have an "official" publishing schedule like some papers. This is because we only publish something when we have something worth publishing. Wouldn't it just suck to have to read another fluffy article about Circle Jerk sponge-bathing the old folks or important announcement about the next Students Against Just About Everything demonstration?

The Backing Vocals!

Even with the finest in Tri-Stapo evasion technologies, we couldn't do it alone. First off, we'd like to thank the "editorial staff" of THE RAG, for their dedication to the arduous task of ranting and bitching into the wee hours of the night, with obvious and legendary disregard for life & limb. We'd also like to thank those anonymous souls who risk their Salvation to step out from the shadows of the bleating herd long enough to share a novel thought for this evil, evil publication we call THE RAG. Finally, we'd like to thank the nice folks at CEXX.org, the world's leading provider of asbestos undergarments, for providing a nonpartisan article dropbox and the delete-resistant space necessary to rant and bitch freely.

The first publication of THE RAG was in an ideal, low-cost, wide-reach area--the dormitory bathroom stalls. Not only is this a place most University administrivia fear to tread, but considering the effects of eating Cafeteria food on a regular basis (pardon the choice of wording), this was the ideal way to reach the student audience at least several times a day. Unfortunately, not 24 hours after THE RAG graced the swinging doors of justice, they all mysteriously disappeared without a trace! An obvious work of Student Services (SS) sabotage if ever there was one. While THE RAG staff searches for a less fragile distribution method, this online RAG repository will serve as the most reliable method of getting it out to the masses (that's you!)

Issues of THE RAG formatted for actual paper & ink can be found here (Word 97 format). Feel free to print out a few and pass 'em around--don't let the Tri-Stapo catch you!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE RAG is the independent creative work of one or more TSU students. CEXX.ORG functions as an infomediary and is not responsible for its contents. All copyrights are retained by the author(s).