The Ubyssey

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The cover of the March 17, 2006 issue of the Ubyssey's Page Friday issue focusing on racism

The Ubyssey is the University of British Columbia's student-run paper. Founded in 1918, The Ubyssey is a member of Canadian University Press (CUP), and is the largest student run paper in Western Canada. Notable writers throughout its history include Pierre Berton, John Turner, Allan Fotheringham, Michael Valpy, Joe Schlesinger, Morley Safer, and Earle Birney.

The Ubyssey suspended publication in the summer of 1993 when the University of British Columbia Alma Mater Society created a new "Publications Board" with power over the previously autonomous Ubyssey staff collective. The paper's staff eventually decided to work with the new board and resumed publication for the 1993-1994 school year, only to be suspended again. This longer suspension, lasting more than a year, occured in the wake of a controversial parody edition of March 30, 1994. The annual parody issues are usually a satire of another publication, formatted in similar typeface and layout. The 1994 edition was a satire of the newspaper staff's own extreme positions and their often overwrought battles with the student union. The issue was roundly criticized by members of the Alma Mater Society, many of whom were satirized therein, and drew fire for an explicit photograph of male nudity. The student union voted to suspend publication indefinitely.

A group of former Ubyssey staff organized a January, 1995 student referendum, which successfully led to an autonomous publication board, a $5 student fee, and the right for any student to "opt out" of paying the fee. The first issue of the new Ubyssey was July 13, 1995.

There are two versions of the Ubyssey. The standard, university news-oriented edition appears on Tuesdays. The other version is called "Page Friday", which focuses more on arts and culture, with more limited focus on news. Special issues are published throughout the school year, focusing on issues affecting the various resource groups of the AMS. The last issue of the year, coming out in April, remains the annual parody issue, where the staff writers make fun of another newspaper. The last issue of the fall term is called the "Ubitchy", where the writers spoof themselves. In 2006, the final fall edition was rather called the Jübessey and was the "Official Satire Edition".

Regular issues of the Ubyssey appear twice a week from September to April (not including during exams or the Christmas break). No issues are printed from May to June. The summer issues are published approximately once a week from late July to late August; these are considered warm up issues for purposes of giving the writers and editors practice.