In planning Obiter Dicta’s first in-person event earlier this year, I found myself in the student paper’s basement office leafing through past print issues dating well back to the 1960s.
As we phrased it to one another on the management team, we planned this event with the goal of reminding the Osgoode community that Obiter exists and that it does interesting, creative things. We used copies of past print-issue pages for a creative exercise to reflect that, so attendees could see how long the newspaper has given voice to the school’s voices, events, and focuses. And in reviewing archival copies to find old articles for new use, I was struck by the newspaper’s centrality to Osgoode’s students, from those long-since graduated to those filling its lecture halls now.
The newspaper’s bylines included current Osgoode staff members who used to be students, and judges who used to be deans. Students volleyed praise and criticism back and forth in “Letters to the Editor,” sharing their vehement views about everything from a front-page story about the Law Society of Ontario to a gossip column about Paris Hilton. Cartoons skewered Osgoode’s student government. The Satire section poked informed fun at federal government policies.
As Obiter Dicta’s editor-in-chief, I already felt strongly about the importance of providing a platform for student voices in all their complexity, outside measured case analyses and fact patterns. Nonetheless, seeing decades’ worth of those voices’ stories stacked up on the office bookshelf brought Osgoode’s past to life so vividly, I felt tremendous gratitude for the last three years I’ve spent at this newspaper.
Just as the old copies provided a window into the school’s history, running the paper this year has given me a window into Osgoode students’ humour, passion, knowledge, and care that I might not otherwise have had.
I’m thankful to have worked with a team of editors this year that channelled their enthusiasm for those other students’ thoughts and interests into their tireless work in their respective roles. Business manager Tom and his team did us the greatest blessing that people who are good with numbers can do for those who aren’t: keeping their eagle eyes trained on various accounts and advertisements so we didn’t have to. Vol. 95’s managing editor, Melannie, constantly worked cheerfully and collaboratively to keep the paper running as effectively as it has. Last year’s editor-in-chief, Sam, gave me the chance to do this job and generously shared his perspective, humour, and guidance when I needed it most. And I’m thrilled for Obiter’s next editor-in-chief, Omar, to bring his brilliant and devoted leadership to the newspaper’s 96th volume.
Thank you to all of you, our contributors and readers, for caring about this paper and working to make it the best it can be.
Obiter doesn’t work without an engaged and thoughtful community, and we’ve been so lucky to get that in spades from you. Thanks for sharing your interesting, creative work with us.