The Koala

The Koala is a satirical comedy college paper distributed primarily on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. The publication is one of many campus newspapers partly funded by the Associated Students of UCSD, the school's student government whose responsibilities include distributing monies to various student organizations. Another portion of The Koala's funding comes from advertisement. It was founded in 1982, but the details of its origins are uncertain. The composition of the paper consists of artwork, articles, personals, and lists similar to David Letterman's Top Ten List.

Nearly all of The Koala's writing is intentionally politically incorrect. The paper has made fun of/attacked every race, ethnicity, religion, group, people with disabilities, sex, and sexual orientation, as well as recent national tragedies. No subject is taboo, and the The Koala made jokes about the September 11 attacks within days of the event. The paper also celebrates a hedonistic lifestyle including the consumption of alcohol, drugs, and pornography.

In addition to the print version, The Koala also broadcasts a television show, Koala-TV, as well as having an online portal for readers and staff. The material on both is consistent with the type of humor found in the paper.

List of controversies

Due to the nature of The Koala's racially and sexually provocative humor, it has been involved in several controversies since nearly the beginning of its existence. Among scandals which have garnered national media attention are:

• Editor Steve York broadcasts a pornographic video of him having sex with a woman on Koala-TV. York's story appeared on several local and national TV news programs. York also went on The O'Reilly Factor to discuss the issue.
• In its most criticized issue, The Koala published in 2003 a parody newspaper called Jizzlam, which ridiculed the culture of the Middle East and the Muslim religion. This issue caused Koala members to be physically attacked by outraged Muslim students.
• In 2002, The Koala was accused of "disruption of a University activity" because of photographs taken of Chicano rights group member Ernesto Martinez at a public meeting. Additionally, two members of the Koala were charged with the same, as individuals. The charges against the individuals were eventually dropped, but the charges against the organization were brought in front of the University's Judicial Board. During the proceedings against the organization, the University objected to the Board's Chairperson's ruling that the hearing should be opened to the public, citing privacy concerns of the witnesses. When the objection was overruled, the University walked out of the hearing, prompting a summary judgment by the board of "Not Guilty". Later the University demanded a second hearing to override the first. The Koala responded by filing a lawsuit asking for $1 million and accusing the university of abusing the campus judiciary process in an attempt to stop publication of the Koala. A second hearing, closed to the public, found the organization "Not Guilty" of violating the Conduct Code a second time.
• In 2006, The Koala was evicted from its campus offices by Gary Radcliffe, assistant vice chancellor of student life, when a bong with marijuana residue and beer bottles were discovered in its filing cabinets. This resulted in a sit-in where staffers occupied and lived in the office and adjacent media commons.
• In 1998, The Koala lost its main campus office for repeated violations of the student code of conduct and student organization conduct agreement.
• In 1997, the staff of The Koala was cited for leaving a female student passed out in the office. The student was taken to a downtown drunk tank and fully recovered.
• In 1993, The Koala office was vandalized by unknown people who drew swastikas in green paint on the floor and door.
• In 1998, a spin off of The Koala, "Koala-TV", was banned from campus for broadcasting nude scenes from a Jenny McCarthy Playboy video.

External links

• The Koala Online
• The Koala @ SDSU