Underground Newspapers, circa 1965 - 2002
We acknowledge that materials in SCARC collections and the language that describes them may be harmful. We are actively working to address our descriptive practices; for more information please see our SCARC Anti-Racist Actions Statement online. SCARC describes the contents of its collections using the language and terminology of the collections themselves. Since culturally acceptable terminology shifts over time, some of the terms that appear in these materials are currently outdated or offensive.
The term “gypsy” is considered derogatory by many Roma people. It comes from the word “Egyptian,” where many Europeans mistakenly believed the Romani came from. In 1971, at the First World Roma Congress, a majority of attendees voted to reject the use of the term “gypsy,” however some still use it to self-identify.
In this collection, the term “gypsy” is used to describe Romani people. Additionally, in the U.S., “gypsy” has also come to signify a free-spirited person, or someone who moves from one place to another without settling down. This use references the traditional migratory lifestyle historically practiced by Roma. In this collection, “gypsy” is used as an adjective in this manner. There are no references to this term in the finding aid, but it does appear in materials that have been scanned and uploaded to Oregon Digital.
In order to provide historical context and to enable standardized searching and access across our collections, we have retained the original wording. We acknowledge the racism represented by the term “gypsy” and the harm it may cause our users. Providing access to these historical materials does not endorse any attitudes or behavior depicted therein. For more information, please see our blog post.
[Date of Acknowledgement: November 2024]
Container List
- Series 1: Biweekly Daily Planet, 1970-1971 Add to Shelf
The Biweekly Daily Planet was a community publication not directly connected with Oregon State University. It lists many campus events and, according to the paper, was sponsored on campus by "A.C.T.S.". In addition to pieces protesting the war in Vietnam and calling out civil rights issues, it includes articles critical of Oregon State University administrators and listings of OSU Experimental College classes. Ten issues were published between November 1970 (no. 1) and May 1971 (no. 10). This collection includes two copies of numbers 1 and 2.
In 2016, one of the editors of the Daily Planet identified himself (Mike Warwick) and the other editors -- Daniel Bergsvik, Carl Stomsens, and Linda Bays. The editors are pictured on page 2 of issue no. 4 (left to right: Bergsvik, Warwick, Stomsens, and Bays).
- Box-Folder 1.1 Add to Shelf
- Series 2: Scab Sheet, 1969-1970 Add to Shelf
The Black Student Union printed and circulated this mimeographed underground newspaper during the Black Student Union protests and walkout in spring 1969. The publication was in response to "biased coverage of events" by the mainstream student newspaper, The Barometer. Publication was sponsored by the Student Action Committee; authors remained anonymous to prevent retaliation citing a "fear of harassment and repressive action".
Fourteen issues of the Scab Sheet were published -- eleven in March-May of 1969 (volume I) and three in the spring of 1970 (volume II). This collection includes multiple copies of all issues.The issues of volume I are focussed on racial issues at Oregon State University, specifically the Fred Milton incident and the resulting Black Student Union walk-out over racial controversies in the Oregon State University athletic department. The issues of volume II address the Vietnam War and American military action in Cambodia.
A 2012 blog post about The Scab Sheet describes the publication and its digitization.
- Box-Folder 1.2: Issues for March 4 - May 3, 1969 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder 1.3: Final two issues in May, 1969 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder 1.4: 1970 Add to Shelf
- Series 3: Spark, circa 1970 Add to Shelf
- Series 3 consists of 2 issues of Spark, a mimeographed publication that describes anti-war protests and events on campus in the spring of 1970 and includes announcements of upcoming events. These two issues are undated and no authors are identified.
- Box-Folder 1.5 Add to Shelf
- Series 4: Élan, 1976 Add to Shelf
- Series 4 consists of one issue of Élan issued in May 1976 by the Literary Magazine Production Class of the OSU Experimental College. The 48-page publication includes original unpublished poems, short stories, and drawings.
- Box-Folder 2.1 Add to Shelf
- Series 5: The Fact Sheet, circa 1970 Add to Shelf
- Series 5 consists of a one-page mimeographed publication, The Fact Sheet. The Fact Sheet is not dated, but appears to be from the early 1970s. It appeals to Oregon State University students to stand in opposition to protest movements on the Oregon State campus.
- Box-Folder 2.2 Add to Shelf
- Series 6: Mutha, undated Add to Shelf
- Series 6 consists of one issue of Mutha -- a 2-page dittoed copy publication produced on a spirit duplicator. The issue is undated; it includes references to the Black Bag, Oregon State University President Jensen, and LBJ suggesting it was published in the mid-late 1960s.
- Box-Folder 2.3 Add to Shelf
- Series 7: Poor Jensen's Almanac, undated Add to Shelf
- Series 7 consists of 2 copies of a one-page publication, Poor Jensen's Almanac. This publication is a dittoed copy produced on a spirit duplicator. With the sub-title, The Uppercrust of the Undergound, the sheet mentions other recent underground student newspapers (Mutha, The Predawn Leftist, and Gadfly). This publication is undated; the title's reference to Oregon State University President Jensen suggests it was published in the mid-late 1960s.
- Box-Folder 2.4 Add to Shelf
- Series 8: Pensée, 1971 Add to Shelf
- Series 8 consists of 3 of the first 4 issues of Pensée, published in February, March, and June 1971. Pensée was initiated as "an alternative to prevailing campus journalism" and was distributed free to students on all major Oregon campuses. Editorial work was based in Portland, Oregon. The magazine was published by Now Publications, based in Bellevue, Washington. Beginning with the October 1971 issue, the magazine was published by the Student Academic Freedom Forum in Portland, Oregon.
- Box-Folder 2.5 Add to Shelf
- Series 9: Rye Grass, 1969 Add to Shelf
- Series 9 consists of the spring 1969 issue of Rye Grass: The Magazine of Agrarian Reform. The 50-page magazine includes essays, satire, poetry, photographs, and drawings that address racism, student protests, the military draft, local and national politics, and campus life and regulations. Submissions were accepted from students and faculty.
- Box-Folder 2.6 Add to Shelf
- Series 10: The Tin Can, 1968 Add to Shelf
- Series 10 consists of one issue of The Tin Can, published in February 1968. The 4-page publication includes poetry and drawings. This issue indicates that submissions for future issues were to be submitted to the English Department.
- Box-Folder 2.7 Add to Shelf
- Series 11: OSU This Weak, 1990-1993 Add to Shelf
- Series 11 consists of 7 issues of OSU This Weak which satirizes the Oregon State University administration, especially President John Byrne and Provost Graham Spanier. OSU This Weak was published irregularly by Kevin Ahern, an Oregon State University employee, as a spoof of the weekly staff newsletter, OSU This Week. During this time, Ahern was Business Manager and Research Coordinator for the OSU Biochemistry and Biophysics Department.
- Box-Folder 1.6 Add to Shelf
- Series 12: The Underachiever, 2002 Add to Shelf
- Series 12 consists of 4 issues of The Underachiever, a zine lampooning Oregon State University as well as Corvallis and Oregon. It includes references to Tonya Harding, Oregon State University President Paul Risser, the Portland Trailblazers, and Steve Fenk in OSU athletics.
- Box-Folder 2.8 Add to Shelf