In an effort to get students talking about sexuality, politics and other controversial issues, a group of ASU students is breathing new life into bilingual magazine Nosotros ... y tu?
The student-run publication, which prints in both Spanish and English, will return to campus in the spring with plans to publish its first edition of the year in late January or early February.
Business management junior and magazine sales director Ramon Quinonez said the magazine is set to publish twice each semester, where before it was only published when funds were available. Nosotros y ... tu? will be circulated at ASU and various community college campuses around the Valley.
"We are for students, by students," Quinonez said. "There is no other bilingual, non-censored magazine on campus."
The magazine began in 2001, when journalism sophomore Luis Avila was working for a Spanish-language publication in the Valley. Avila said he had written an article on sexuality and virginity in Hispanic society and said he was told that his article was too controversial.
"I used words like 'masturbation' [in the article] and it was too controversial," Avila said. "So I decided to create my own outlet."
According to magazine adviser and Spanish professor Manuel de Jesus Hernandez, the magazine fell on hard financial times soon after.
"Putting it out with no support from the University leads to attrition," he said.
According to general director and theatre junior Marcelino Quinonez, Nosotros ... y tu? covers topics relevant to students, ranging from politics and culture to sexual orientation.
"Our main goal is to create a voice and to let students know that they don't have to be afraid to say what they really believe," Marcelino said.
Students may submit articles to the magazine. Articles will be reviewed by the editorial staff and published if selected.
On Nov. 3, the magazine held "Speak your mind, Peace of mind," a free speech event in which students could publicly voice their opinions on issues generally considered controversial.
"We had poster boards that posed questions [to students] to instigate thought and get out how people felt," Ramon said.
Ramon also said with a staff of 13, mostly ASU students, the hardest part of putting together the publication has been the financing.
"There has been a lot of trial and error to get the magazine to stand alone," he said.
He also said the publication is seeking support in the form of advertising and donations from various businesses, as well as ASU.
However small the group, Hernandez said the students are dedicated to getting student voices heard.
"I am proud of the students that are taking the initiative to publish the magazine," he said. "It's not easy."
Reach the reporter at jenna.eckenrode@asu.edu.
