The blue-line proofs of the new issue of “The Torch” came back from the printer today. Perhaps it was the contact high from the weird blue ink they use, but I’m really excited with the way it turned out.
The Torch is the Journal of the Young People’s Socialist League. It’s my first issue as editor in five years. I am a little long in the tooth for any kind of young people’s league, but, after nine years in the organization (including a four-year stint as National Secretary and a three-year stint as Torch editor), I can’t just up and leave. I’ve basically been playing a supportive, back-seat role until I turn 30 and have to be sent to Sanctuary.
That was until a handful of comrades, including Mary Loritz (known to my friends, for a time, as “that girl on the couch”), asked me to get The Torch going again after the last editor gave up. I couldn’t resist a project like that, especially given my current state of redundancy. I’ll likely only publish a handful of issues before handing over the reins to an actual youth.
The new issue features an excellent cover story by Jonathan Mertzig about the “Post-Graduation Blues.” It’s in a similar vein as those Village Voice articles about “Generation Debt,” except Jonathan, being a working class kid who went to a state school, is a lot more sympathetic than some NYU art school graduate on food stamps. My friend Sarah Stefanko wrote about moving to Canada in order to live with her girlfriend. Mary (“of the couch”) wrote a really terrific piece about SEIU’s childcare workers organizing drive, which she worked on as an intern. Sam Morales, my comrade here in the Socialist Party of New York City wrote about the IWW’s effort to organize Starbucks workers. There are a couple more shorter articles and some wonderful illustrations by Aimee Ingles, as well as news, editorials and an advice column from my mysterious roommate, pinkocommiebastard.
I’ll post links to article excerpts as they go online. Eventually, there will be a full PDF of issue #42 posted. First, we’re going to mail the issue to YPSL members and use the issue’s exclusivity to entice new members. I’ll probably be carrying a handful of copies wherever I go, as soon as they come back from the printer (later this week), so ask for one when you see me. Otherwise you can e-mail YPSL for a copy and a membership application.