Yana Fershtein on a Student Petition at KPU
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/10/17
Yana Fershtein is the Managing Editor of PULP Mag. She discusses editorial independence, the petition affecting PIPS, and student involvement.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we’re here with Yana Fershtein from PULP Mag. Yana, as an initial question, how long have you been involved with PULP Mag?
Yana Fershtein: I joined PULP Mag as the new managing editor in June, so about three months and a bit.
Jacobsen: What was your prior level of managerial and editorial experience? Is this your first managing editor position?
Fershtein: Yes, it is.
Jacobsen: What do you know about the petition and how it affects PIPS and the magazine’s operations?
Fershtein: I heard about it from the PIPS operations manager. She reached out to me when they first received the petition, as it would affect PULP Mag. Being the managing editor, they involved me right away. However, I wasn’t very involved in the initial stages of figuring out what the petition meant and what needed to be done.
I did, however, speak with some of the Runner’s staff. I believe it was the managing editor. They explained to me the history of the relationship between the Runner and the KSA, as well as what this petition means for PIPS, the Runner, and PULP Mag by extension.
Jacobsen: So, when looking at the petition’s call for KSA board involvement, for instance, if this first step is approved, would it raise concerns for you, or no, regarding editorial independence?
Not necessarily for the Runner, but if it were to escalate, such as them wanting a seat on the PIPS board and gaining editorial oversight over PULP Mag and the Runner, then yes, it would concern me.
Fershtein: My biggest concern would be the possibility that PIPS, the Runner, or both publications could be killed at any point. Additionally, the nature of our content, primarily artistic and literary works, focuses less on objective, unbiased reporting and more on creativity and expression. Emotions are often involved in what we publish, and if editorial independence from the KSA council members is compromised, contributors may not feel free to express themselves fully. As we are a publication primarily for KPU students, I believe they should retain the right to express themselves artistically.
Jacobsen: How much do students contribute per credit to PULP Mag?
Fershtein: It’s 75¢ per credit for PIPS, and that funding is split between the Runner and PULP Mag.
Jacobsen: Have you or any prior managing editors ever received complaints about this contribution of less than a dollar per credit?
Fershtein: I can’t speak for any previous managing editors, but no one has said anything to me. I’ve never received any complaints, and I haven’t heard of anyone, formally or informally, objecting to it. It’s also an optional fee. People can opt out of it.
Jacobsen: What do you think is the importance of editorial independence when writing for a community? You are a student publication for students, especially given your knowledge of expressing emotions and putting feelings into, for instance, loud colors on the page and evocative wording. Can you comment on that? Editorial freedom is crucial, whether you’re talking about traditional newspaper writing or creative expression in more artistic formats, like PULP Mag and other similar publications serving the public.
Fershtein: I think it’s very important. One of the things we aim to do is publish work that is unique or pushes boundaries because that’s often the kind of artwork that becomes important and significant on a broader scale. For students, who are usually early in their careers, this is especially true. Many are just starting to realize they can share their writing with the world.
A lot of magazines or publishers have a high barrier to entry. That’s why having PULP Mag exist as a student-run publication, yet independent from governing bodies like the school or the student union, is so important. It provides students with an easier way to share their work as they’re starting out. They feel supported and know they can express themselves without holding back. Creative writing and art allow for expression in ways that writing a newspaper article might not.
Jacobsen: Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share on this topic? I also want to be sensitive to the fact that it’s not easy being put on the spot just three months into a new job.
Fershtein: Are you asking specifically about this question or overall?
Jacobsen: Overall, and in reflection on everything we’ve discussed, especially given the context of starting a new role and then having this event happen. I can’t imagine this being easy.
Fershtein: It’s been quite a learning curve. I spoke to some previous managing editors. They unanimously said this had never happened before. What stings a bit is that PULP Mag wasn’t really an instigator for any of this in any way.
The magazine got caught in the crossfire of this. It made me wonder whether the best interests of everyone were really considered. Sometimes it felt like PULP Mag and the students it serves—creative writing students, art students, or even students from other disciplines wanting to express themselves—weren’t really taken into account. Otherwise, this experience has definitely made me more aware of what’s happening at KPU. I’ve felt very supported by the Runner staff, especially Claudia. She’s been great at explaining everything to me, especially since I just started not too long ago. It can only go up from here.
Jacobsen: Yana, thank you very much for your time today.
Fershtein: Thank you. I appreciate you reaching out to me and giving PULP Mag a voice because it did feel a little like we were watching things unfold without being able to do much. Thank you for seeking PULP’s perspective.
Jacobsen: You’re very welcome.
Fershtein: Cool. Great. Thank you, it was great talking to you, Scott.
Jacobsen: Thank you. Bye.
Fershtein: Bye-bye.
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