Cal has seen the birth of three new printed publications this year. My own Berkeley Political Review, the activist X, and now Senator Kagan's 'Negativity.' His objective:

We are founded by students who want to hear new ideas and exciting opinions. Negativity is the free speech forum to offer this chance to students.

Articles include:
1. Berkeley is full of wimps
2. A rehash of the God Bless You Man's death and rebirth.
3. Hatred of certain Asians
4. The Flag symbolizes freedom
5. John Walker sucks
6. The ASUC is full of assholes.
7. Sex on Tuesday spoof.
8. SJP is full of dicks
9. Extremists are hurting Berkeley
10. Women should be sexy in moderation

Negativity proclaims to publish things you can't say in Berkeley, but the above are all things you can say in Berkeley. You'll take some shit for it, but you can do it.

And while I hate to knock a new publication and to slam faithful Calstuff reader Senator Kagan, (One of my finalists for Senator of the Year,) the writing in Negativity needs work. The article on Dwight Leeray has large factual errors. The piece on Palestine is a rant, not an article.

But here's the thing: I'm glad Negativity is here, and it needs to stick around. Because while you can say the stuff above, there's never been a place for anyone to publish it. Senator Kagan has been an excellent Senator because he looks for where ASUC money is needed, not where it'll get him publicity and fame. Negativity fills a giant, gaping hole no one else has tried to fill: cross-spectrum ideas and opinion.

So I'm criticizing its execution because I think Negativity can be much more. It can be one of the top three magazines on this campus: news, commentary, and features from some of the best minds and writers on campus. Satellite is too Humanities-major-y, Patriot is too angry, everything else is too narrowly focused. With some good editing and heavy writer recruitment, plus a focus on opinions instead of rants, Negativity can pass all of them.

On the other hand, I want the News and Commentary source on this campus to be Calstuff, so maybe I should try to destroy Negativity. Eh, whatever.Email This Post!