OVERTHEEDGE February 13-27, 2008 The Over the Edge Annual General Meeting in review The budget explained ALZAAR SHaAM SEMERE Manacine Epiror Hello, everybody. In case you were not able to make it to the AGM, here is a budget that we read that outlines the expected flow of things this semester. First of all, I just want to make it clear that we will NOT be going online. The biweekly format will be maintained, and there is a possibility of a website in some manner in the coming semester. But again, we will be staying with the biweekly format due to student desires ,, and financial con- straints that may not make the change possible if any un- (like possibly purchasing business insurance), as well foreseen problems arise. I also want it to be clear that some of the figures are conservative es- timates based on what I know from the past semester. For example, an editor is required to put in thirty hours a month at minimum (which includes 12 office hours) to earn their honorarium, but there is usually one or two who fall a few hours short, so the budget has been ad- justed to reflect that. Furthermore, an issue of the paper costs $1129.60 to print, and we will be printing issues through to the beginning of April (and that is where the $9040 comes from). The top half of the budget es- sentially details what we expect to owe or pay out this semester. The bottom half deals with what we expect to come The final balance is there as padding, we will hopefully have to take care of other expenses last semester we just New Memory Over the Edg in. The university collects the $5 fee you so graciously pay us and with which we use to operate, and remits it to us in two installments. The first is substantial and makes up the bulk of our operating budget. The next figure is ad revenue from an organization called Campus Plus. Cam- pus Plus works with business across Canada to find ad- vertisements for small newspapers (like Over the Edge) so that we can supplement our operating budget to pay out honorariums and conference fees. This figure was ap- proximately $6700 last semester, and was used largely to pay what outstanding debts we could. The reason the : concert has a zero An GMOUNE yoside it is because broke even (an un- fortunate turnout, as any other expenses that may arise unexpectedly.” Probably due to the ing of it), so get out there and support your newspaper, etcetera, etcetera! The final balance is there as padding, an amount we will hopefully have to take care of other expenses (like pos- sibly purchasing business insurance), as well as any other expenses that may arise unexpectedly. Unfortunately, as an open investigation with the RCMP is still underway with regards to the disappearance of all that money, I can- not comment on it any further than I already have in past issues. When we are able to release more details, I assure you that they will be yours. If you have any other ques- tions, feel free to swing by the office and ask away. Simran LEHAL News Epiror Institutional memory, a collection of experiences gathered to preserve the integrity and ideals of a soci- ety over time, is needed at Over the Edge (OTE). This type of sea- soned stability cannot be achieved in the short and hectic schedule of semester-break-semester-exams al- lotted to undergraduate or graduate student writers. Rather, a long- term experienced safe-hold must be implemented to prevent OTE from, aptly, toppling “over the edge.” Thus, at our recent Annual Gen- eral Meeting, we proposed and successfully passed two bylaws regarding the implementation of institutional memory at OTE. Two new positions will be forthcoming: a Faculty/Staff Advisor and a Gen- eral Manager, both responsible for maintaining a smoothly functioning independent publication. In particular, the Faculty/Staff Ad- visor will be the link between OTE and the University administration. The advisor, who will be a profes- sor, UNBC staff member, or profes- sional, will ensure that the right to a free and fair student voice is met by advising the editorial board on how best to manage potentially adverse or controversial circumstances and by representing the interests of OTE to the University, Although this ad- visor will be consulted for guidance, all final decisions will still remain in the hands of the student-run editorial board. The General Manager is like all general managers: responsible for the technical, monetary, and legal as- pects of administration. This person will be a current or past UNBC stu- dent with financial and public rela- tions experience. He or she will be a voting member of the editorial board, and will be accountable by regu- larly providing written financial and progress reports. The GM will also ensure Canadian University Press guidelines are met, and will assist in improving relations and recruiting. This person must also be willing to submit to a background check. As the responsibilities of the above positions indicate, these individuals will assist in preventing scandals — such as controversial print material or financial embezzlement — from rocking OTE again. The positions will become effective during the new school year. If you want to see the details of either of these positions, please stop by the office or email over-the- edge@unbc.ca.