UB students can expect on Tuesday to pick up the inaugural issue of The Pillar, a new student newspaper that aims to provide a greater conservative voice on campus.
"My belief was that in this political season there is an array of extremely left newspapers on campus, and there is no conservative voice," said Howard Londin, editor in chief of The Pillar.
Londin pointed to Generation, The Spectrum and papers like the New Federalist as examples of the right wing's under-representation in print, although he said that non-student papers like the New Federalist are in a category all of their own on the far left.
"My opinion is that The Spectrum is not fair to the right side in stories and point of view," Londin said.
George Zornick, editor in chief of The Spectrum, said he understands why his paper might seem liberal.
"I acknowledge that The Spectrum's opinion page usually has more liberal opinions, but that's a mere function of the people who are on the editorial board," he said.
Zornick said that he has no idea what the political views are for 99 percent of his 60-plus student staff, which writes the bulk of the stories.
While calling for a stronger conservative representation, editors and writers for The Pillar say their new paper is not meant to be a right-wing publication.
"The goal is to be balanced," Londin said.
According to Duncan Stanley, treasurer for the College Republicans and business manager for The Pillar, the paper is being funded by a conservative think-tank and through selling ads.
"With the help of a generous grant given to us from the Leadership Institute and the amount of advertisements we have sold across various local businesses, we are well off," Stanley said.
Londin said although The Pillar is being funded by the Leadership Institute, which urges on its Web site to bring the "conservative revolution" to college campuses, the goal is to put out a fair and balanced newspaper.
Londin said he and his colleagues told the institute in their request for funds that they were not writing a right-wing paper, but rather were starting it to combat the unbalanced liberal point of view at UB. Another conservative organization, the Heritage Foundation, denied The Pillar's request for money, Londin said.
Londin added he hopes more liberal students join the paper once it gets going.
"There is definitely going to be a conservative leaning, in the first issue particularly, because everyone writing for it is conservative," he said.
"It may just end up being an image issue," Londin added.
To start, The Pillar will print once every two weeks with a circulation of 5,000.
Londin said there will be a news section, an opinions page, sports page, arts and leisure, restaurant reviews, and a couple of things unique to The Pillar, like a professors profile page and a student complaints section where students can to voice issues they have with the school.
Stalney said he believes The Pillar will be in a unique position as a student voice since it will not be getting funds from SA.
Londin added the paper's news coverage will also differ.
"Our news page will not cover the story of the day occurring at UB and the world but information that really will matter and affect us in the long run," Londin said.
Thomas Gueli, a staff writer for The Pillar, said the paper is also kicking around the idea of a "jackass of the week" page.
"There is really definitely something for everyone there," Gueli said.
Gueli also echoed Londin's sentiments over the purpose of the paper.
"We are just trying to balance things out and show the other side of the spectrum while providing Democratic viewpoints in the paper as well," he said.
Some students said they are skeptical over how unbiased The Pillar will be.
"I doubt that The Pillar can achieve a completely unbiased newspaper," said Wessam Badawi, a sophomore undecided major.
Other students said they are looking forward to picking up that first issue.
"I am very tired of reading anti-Bush articles so I will definitely pick up The Pillar to get a different point of view," said Ryan Sajdak, a freshman mechanical engineering major.
Jennifer Gillan, a member of College Democrats, said she thought The Pillar is what political activism is all about.
" If your voice is being suppressed and you have something you want to say, you get out there and do whatever you can to get it heard," Gillan said.
