I’ve been spending the last few months examining various opportunities at my disposal for student associations or projects. I wanted to join an initiative to which I could bring and use my various skills and abilities in a meaningful way. I also recognized my blind-luck in falling into my position with the IR Society and was wary to press my luck with any future organizations and thus subjected any option to rigorous scrutiny.
Each option became increasingly undesirable under analysis to the point where I found myself with a dearth of opportunities to get involved in existing projects.
I’m very conscious of the Not Invented Here mentality that pervades many fledgling initiatives but I genuinely believe this is both novel at UofT and a proven concept. My idea is to create a publication edited and (largely) written by UofT students in the vain of general interest but literate periodicals such as Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, New Yorker, the Walrus or Vanity Fair.
In contrast to the large majority of student publications this would not necessarily be strictly journalistic and instead would provide a space for a more in-depth exposition, it would also provide a space for general-interest geared academic discussions and other discussions for smart people who aren’t necessarily domain experts.
My hope would be to loosely mirror the academic structure - providing space of literature, scientific essays, political analysis, historical discussions etc.
To ensure a high-calibre of authorship I think the magazine should not be exclusively written by UofT students though their contributions will be weighted preferably.
Aside from a tentative title (The Oak & Beaver) and a basic format concept the details haven’t been settled and likely won’t be until I can find a group of interested parties.