About Us

Established in February 1942, the Fulcrum is the independent English-language student newspaper at the University of Ottawa. A member of Canadian University Press (CUP), the Fulcrum has been owned and operated by the Fulcrum Publishing Society (FPS), a not-for-profit corporation registered in Ontario, since June 1 2005.

The FPS is governed by a ten-member board of directors who meet monthly to discuss financial, HR, and strategic planning matters for the FPS.

All students at the U of O contribute to the Fulcrum through a student levy and thus are members of the corporation and eligible to attend the monthly board meetings. Students are also eligible to become “voting members” of the FPS and have a vote at the yearly annual general meeting by registering and confirming their enrollment with the Society. This can be done only during specified periods during the year. Interested students should contact the FPS president at board@thefulcrum.ca for details.

Below you will find the current FPS bylaws, FPS Policy Manual, Editorial Constitution, a list of dates for BOD meetings, a list of current BOD members and vacancies, as well as the minutes from meetings during the 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, and 2010–11 publishing year. For any questions about board matters or to inquire about a vacancy on the BOD, e-mail board@thefulcrum.ca.

If you have any concerns about the management of the corporation, you can also e-mail our ombudsman at ombudsman@thefulcrum.ca. The ombudsman is an impartial party not employed by the corporation who will take your concerns seriously and who has the power to pursue a resolution on your behalf.

Our Editorial Staff

Mercedes Mueller

Editor In Chief

Office hours: Mondays–Thursdays, 2 p.m.–5 p.m.

Email: editor@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5261 | C: (519) 372-7663

Hey people!

My name is Mercedes Mueller, and I’m the editor-in-chief of the Fulcrum. I’ve been hanging around the F for a couple of years, dragging out my undergrad last year so I could be executive editor. And even though my undergrad days are over and I’m about to start my master’s in economics at the U of O, I just can’t keep away from this super legit place I’ve come to call home.

As EIC of the paper, I run the show behind the scenes. I don’t have a section you can volunteer for, and unfortunately, you can’t sub in for me at the many meetings that fill my week. Sad, I know! But I do want to encourage those who are even slightly interested in writing, editing, design, art, video, social media, web design, and even policy to volunteer for the paper.

The Fulcrum is a student-run, volunteer-driven organization that relies on the time and efforts of our volunteer base to put out the paper week after week. We need volunteers to write and illustrate articles, design and proofread our pages, produce videos for our website, and sit on our board of directors. Our paper would not exist without our volunteers, and we always need more of them.

Whether you are a journalism major or you just want to try something new during your time here, come to the Fulcrum. My time at the Fulcrum has been the best part of my university experience—and for someone going into her sixth year who has had more adventures at the U of O than she can count, that’s saying a lot.

Feel free to email me or come by my office hours any time if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions for the Fulcrum, and volunteers are welcome to bug me for help with their writing. I’m also always down to go for beers, play foosball, and talk about supply and demand—we can even do all three at once.

Hope to see you all around this year!

Michelle Ferguson

Production Manager

Office hours: Thursdays 1:30 p.m.–4 p.m, Friday 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Email: production@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5260 | C: (613) 867-1662

Hey! This is Michelle, your production manager. Allow me to introduce myself: I like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.

OK, not really. Well, sometimes… But mostly I like quoting songs and making really lame jokes (for further proof, check out all our house ads—written by yours truly). I also like the Fulcrum—it’s like my second home (in a good, everyone-feels-like-family-and-I-can-walk-around-with-no-shoes-on-in-the-office kind of way). But I digress…

Let’s try this again.

Hey! This is Michelle, your production manager. I am a fourth-year student studying French literature (ironic, I know). I love books, I love writing, and I love design. I also love music and sports. All around, I think I’m kind of cool. Thus, you should come hang out with me on Sunday afternoons or Monday mornings, where you can learn all about design and making the paper look pretty at the Fulcrum!

(Sorry, no long walks on the beach—those are reserved for Fridays.)

Jaclyn Lytle

Executive Editor

Office hours: Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m, Thursday 12 p.m.–1 p.m, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Email: executive@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5258 | C: (613) 719-9738

Hey there, guys and gals, odds and ends, and all you interested volunteers. Jaclyn Lytle here, long-time Fulcrum fan, dinosaur employee, and this year’s executive and opinions editor.

For those of you wondering who the heck I am, let me afford you a little insight into my life. I am an English major in my senior year, I have a strong penchant for captioned cat pictures, and an adoration of quirky coffee shops.

Under my reign, the opinions section is open to any volunteer of any experience level. I don’t care if you’re just learning the English language or you have a full-length novel series under your belt—I want your opinions, and I want them bad.

If you’re interested in sex, arts, current events, politics, local goings-on, video games, or anything else under the sun, then please come talk to me. Whether your topic is seriously sombre or undeniably uplifting, I can help you turn it into a piece that will grab readers’ attention and add to the diversity of the opinion section.

Whether you have an idea of your own or you prefer to work on an assignment basis, feel free to email me, call me, or come to my office hours and chat with me about how you can contribute to my section.

Mico Mazza

Art Director

Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:30 p.m.–4 p.m., Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Email: design@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5258 | C: (613) 867-2266

Hi, I’m Mico Mazza. I’m the art director of the Fulcrum, and I’m also a second-year student in general arts. I’ve been talking pictures since I was about seven, but I started get serious about it four years ago.

I’m the guy to talk to if you love taking pictures, drawing, making comics, or even painting, I can always use some help, so feel free to email me—or if you would rather talk face-to-face, you can meet up with me at the staff meeting or come chat with me during my office hours!

Jane Lytvynenko

News Editor

Office Hours: Thursdays 11 a.m.–1 p.m, 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

Email: news@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5260 | C: (613) 276-1376

My name is Jane Lytvynenko, and yes, I will buy you a beer if you can say my last name right the first time. I’m the news editor of the Fulcrum, a third-year communications and psychology student at the U of O, and an all-around awesome journalist.

The news section is fantastic. Though it definitely takes some blood, sweat, and tears, it’s one of the most rewarding sections you can write for because it covers almost any subject. Whether it’s something you’re passionate and know a lot about, or a piece that will require five hours of research, by writing for news you’ll become the go-to source for news.

That’s part of the reason why journalism is my passion. For the past seven years, I’ve been striving to immerse myself into the profession that, in my opinion, has the potential to change the world. Even if it’s not your chosen career path, I hope you give writing for me a try. Be it for your resumé or the discovery of a new hobby, consider writing for the Fulcrum. In the immortal words of Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, “Buy the ticket, take the ride.”

Sofia Hashi

Arts and Culture Editor

Office Hours: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m, 1:30 p.m.–3 p.m.

Email: arts@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5931 | C: (613) 869-1798

Hey guys! My name is Sofia, and I’m a fourth-year communications student here at the U of O. I enjoy theatre, dance, and having a good time (who isn’t a fan of that?). I’m also the arts & culture editor, so if you’re interested in arts, you’ve come to the right place!

If you want to volunteer for me, have an interesting story to pitch, or want to speak with someone super cool, come talk to me! The Fulcrum covers movie, album, theatre, restaurant, and book reviews. We also cover any arts-related event on campus and throughout the city, whether it’s dance, theatre, music, or visual arts. Another great perk about writing for arts is that you get free stuff. We give away albums and tickets to movies, shows, and festivals. So basically, you should come volunteer for me.

Yay arts!

Kristyn Filip

Features Editor

Office Hours: Thursdays 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Email: features@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5258 | C: (613) 614-8840

Hello, Fulcrum readers! My name is Kristyn Filip, and I am the features editor of the newspaper. I hail from Sarnia, Ont., but have called Ottawa home since 2007 when I moved here to begin my degree at the U of O. I have since graduated and am now doing what all English majors love to do—writing and editing!
I must admit that I have one of the best jobs here at the Fulcrum. As editor of the features section, I am responsible for the Distractions page (I have the privilege of working closely with the divine Di Daniels), the Thryllabus, and the feature itself. A feature is an in-depth examination of a topic—any topic—that appeals to students. I am always looking for volunteers who are unafraid of doing a little research, willing to interview sources, and happy to write a 1,500 word article. Looking to challenge yourself as a journalist? The features section is for you!

Katherine DeClerq

Sports Editor

Office Hours: Thursdays 2 p.m.–5 p.m.

Email: sports@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5931 | C: (613) 327-8540

My name is Katherine DeClerq, and I am the sports editor of the Fulcrum, the University of Ottawa’s English-language newspaper. I am somewhat of a Fulcrum veteran, having worked as staff writer and news editor before taking over the sports office. I am in my fourth year of a joint honours degree in political science and history, and have a love for all things awesome, ironic, linguistic, and historic. Yes—I am a nerd and proud of it.

The sports section of the Fulcrum is made up of game reviews, athlete Q&As, health and fitness articles, and special interest or in-depth stories. If you have a story to pitch or want to volunteer for the sports section, send me an email or come to my office hours!

Charlotte Bailey

Online Editor

Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:30–5:30, Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Email: online@thefulcrum.ca | O: (613) 562-5258 | C: (613) 797-7568

Hey volunteers! I’m Charlotte, and I’m the online editor of the Fulcrum. I started out as a volunteer, and then worked as the associate news editor. Last year, I was the arts and culture editor, and now I’m taking on the website as my newest challenge.

I’d love to hear from any student who wants to write. In the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to write for every section of the paper. With the website, I’m not limited to one theme—I get to write about whatever is happening on campus. So if you’re looking to get into writing, but aren’t sure what you’d like to write about yet, send me an email and we’ll figure out a piece you’d be comfortable with. I’m also interested in volunteers who can cover breaking stories, and video coverage of campus news.

Something amazing you should know about the Fulcrum is that it’s constantly referred to by staff as a “learning newspaper.” That doesn’t mean we’re amateur—it means we have amazing resources and opportunities for budding writers. These include writing help from editors, mentorship programs in the city, and connections to other journalists on a local, provincial, and national scale. There’s also great people and parties to enjoy when we’re not writing. So don’t be scared to try something new—swing by 631 King Edward Ave. on Thursdays for a good time!