University of Virginia Library

'Nipple': New Underground Paper

By Brewster Moseley

"Nipple," a new underground
newspaper at the University, recently
made its first appearance on
the Grounds. A spokesman for the
group that publishes "Nipple" (the
Virginia Community-Media Project),
stated last week that the
paper would be in the "genre of the
typical underground newspaper."
Unfortunately, this is quite true.

Like most New Leftist underground
publications, "Nipple" is
amateurish, and its format contains
such overworked topics as marijuana,
power structure oppression,
the need for a revolution to rectify
the gradual institutionalization and
governmental suppression in the
U.S., and so forth.

"Magnolia Maverick"

"Nipple" begins with a cumbersome
article called "Magnolia Maverick"
concerning the apparently
revitalized Women's Liberation
Movement, a modern by-product of
which is the W.I.T.C.H. (Women's
International Terrorist Conspiracy
from Hell).

The fiercely independent attitude
of the author is reminiscent of
that of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association
formed during the turn of the
century by women concerned with
their place and meaning in society,
unfair psychological oppression,
male domination and supremacy; in
short, suppression of their natural
rights. Apparently dissatisfied with
the slow progress of their long-deserved
"liberation," those connected
with the new Movement
have decided to become revolutionaries
in "...the great hypocritical
dishwatery computerizer," of
America.

Although the author does not
go so far as to condone the separation
of women from men as a
possible alleviate of this unfair oppression
(Consider yourselves
lucky, gentlemen!), she does suggest
the formation of female liberation
groups as alternatives so that
women can successfully "...combat
the oppressive institutions and
change the dehumanizing social
patterns." How the execution of
these alternatives is intended,
though, is not made clear.

"Radical or Liberal?"

"Radical or liberal?,"
(dedicated, incidentally, to Robert
Rosen) is a lengthy and often repetitious
definition of the New Left,
and, as the title suggests, it examines
the contemporary meaning of
the words "liberal" and "radical."
For those not familiar with the
purpose of and ideals behind the
New Left, this article will be
informative and perhaps enlightening.
In itself, however, the article is
burdened with typical and overworked
anti-Establishment propaganda,
the platitude of which keeps
it from even getting off the ground.

The third bill of particulars is
entitled "Blue Meanies in Appalachia
- War Against The Poor."
Following a brief introductory history
of Southern oppression by the
Yanks, the author becomes
involved in a lengthy discussion of
the exploitation of Appalachian coal
miners at the hands of the "...carpetbag
companies and scalawag politicians."

A case history of the "suppression
against anti-poverty workers
and the people of the country" by
the local power structure
(controlled [sic], of course, by the
coal interests) is also included, presumably
to heighten the effect.

"Biggees"

The next article, "Why Colleges
Are Revolting," does little more
than thrust the blame of the Colombia
student rebellion on the
"Biggees," better known as the
Establishment. According to Mr.
Kunen who wrote the article for
the "Atlantic Monthly," the rebellion
was "set in motion by a nebulous

group of outsiders who are
variously known as the corporate
power elite, the military-industrial
complex, the Establishment." The
viewpoint expressed by this article
is interesting, and perhaps representative
of the student rebels at
Colombia, or Wisconsin, or even
Virginia.

Following "Education and Culture,"
which again harps on the
importance of alleviating power
structure oppression and revolutionizing
our present institutions, is
an interesting and informative article
on Marijuana. Although the
subject itself is quite passe, it is
rehashed here, presumably for
those who wish to grow, harvest,
cure, and smoke it. By the way, if
you're tired of TV dinners a toothsome
recipe for Majoun accompanies
the pot article.

Music Reviews

"CBE Scope," written by
ex-Slithy Tove, Chet Blakistone,
contains short reviews of two current
rock albums ("Zeppelin," and
the Cream's "Goodbye"), an article
on the music of Sandy Hurvitz, and
a review of the recently reorganized
Slithy Toves.

"Nipple" ends with a rather
foolish poem, "Bryant Park," and a
section of classified ads - half of
which are legitimate, and half of
which are immature, tasteless attempts
at some strange form of
humor.

With an extremely singular cover
design and a provocative title, one
would tend to expect a somewhat
unusual format for a publication
apparently trying to keep abreast of
current student factionalism. Unfortunately,
however, "Nipple" offers
nothing out-of-the-ordinary,
and its lack of originality makes it
sadly characteristic of most amateurish
leftist publications.