Founded in 1962, Pro Tem is Glendon’s student newspaper, York University’s oldest student-run publication, and the only bilingual newspaper in Ontario. Impressive, I know. Pro Tem gives the Glendon student-body a voice, addressing Glendon and common student life issues. With that said though, Pro Tem covers a wide-range of topics that stretch beyond our school’s boarders, to include the city of Toronto, Canada, and because of our strong international student population, a personal look at world issues.
Currently, Pro Tem is going under some major changes after running into problems during the 2010-2011 school year. Due to some administrative issues, Pro Tem went on an unfortunate hiatus but has returned with a new spirit and have big rebuilding plans.
Pro Tem’s assistant English editor, Elsa Ascencio told me that there are three major issues that the paper is currently combating to get back to its top-form. “What occurred from this hiatus is there’s a gap of many things: a) Glendon students knowing that we exist, b) technological changes, and c) what’s current in with the publishing world. As a result, this year is kind of an interesting year. Cheryl [Kane], our editor-in-chief, Paola [Paulino], our assistant French editor, and I, and our team, have been working tremendously but it does sometimes feel like starting a new newspaper.”
As Pro Tem found themselves behind when it came to technological changes, as a result of the gap year, Glendon’s paper was quick to play catch-up, now keeping up to date with their Facebook and Twitter pages. Another big change that’s happening right now for Pro Tem is the ability for its audience to read the newspaper online. With Pro Tem’s new Tumblr page, you are able to view this past year’s editions of the paper (Psst, I’m in them) and spotlights various articles from the past fifty-years worth of papers.
Like every university newspaper, Pro Tem does struggle with student involvement and according to Ascencio, the biggest obstacle that the paper has in getting back to its former-self, is student apathy. “It’s just students don’t care. And they do have opinions, I don’t question that, it’s just for some reason no one really wants to write about it.”
As future Glendon students and being part of the culturally rich and unique student-body that makes up Glendon, you can be part of the next generation of Pro Tem and combat student apathy. It’s so important to express your voice at university and in life. Pro Tem is the perfect place to do so.
“We are on a liberal arts campus, our niche, our whole thing is writing, communication, and critically analyzing the issues presented,” says Ascencio.
“Pro Tem gives every student the opportunity to do that. That’s one of the inherent advantages with working with Pro Tem. A student who comes in with a liberal arts education in mind, will get the most out of it.”
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