The two students pictured on the cover of the first issue of Korean Ducks aren’t actually Korean.
And the creators of the new bi-monthly multicultural magazine said that’s the point.
“We want to share some Korean culture with others, but we also want to allow everyone to share aspects of their culture, too,” said Young Cha, co-director of the multicultural magazine. “By doing this, people can have a better understanding of each other.”
The staff of Korean Ducks celebrated its inaugural issue on Friday in the EMU’s Gumwood Room with snacks from various countries and presentations by the magazine staff.
Currently, the student-run magazine has a 40-member staff, about half Korean and half from other backgrounds, said Cha, who graduated in the fall and is preparing for law school.
The production of the magazine is funded about 80 percent with advertising sales, Cha said. Other funds came from donations and fundraising. The circulation was 3,000 magazines for the first issue, printed by Western Oregon Web Press, Inc., and they can be picked up at the University Bookstore, Lillis Business Complex and several businesses around town, including Sunrise Asian Food Market.
Cha said the circulation will “definitely increase” next issue, somewhere between 4,000 to 5,000 total, and they will increase the number of distribution locations, including at least one spot in Portland.
Features in the first issue such as “New Year’s Around the World” provide a place for students to share and learn about different cultures. The cover story of the issue, a narrative by Swedish exchange student Daniel Asenlund, uses the Korean dish Bibimbap as a metaphor for the magazine’s goal.
“We live in a world where cooperation rather than competition is becoming the nexus of a working global community,” Asenlund wrote. He then explains how the traditional rice and salad bowl represents the mix of cultures on the University campus.
“When you mix together all the different ingredients, then it tastes better,” Cha said, referring to the article. “We want to be the chopsticks.”
Cha and University student Hasang Cheon first pitched the idea of creating a multicultural magazine on campus to Magid Shirzadegan, director of international student and scholarship services, at a volunteer appreciation gathering at Shirzadegan’s house in September.
“At first I thought this was just a dream, like we all have dreams,” Shirzadegan said. “I thought once they saw how many barriers were in their way they would give up.”
But Cha and Cheon were in Shirzadegan’s office one week later making plans for the first issue.
“They wanted to have one every week … I thought it would take a year to get off the ground,” he said.
A little more than three months later, the first issue was published.
“We all have dreams. Some of us follow through with them like Young and Hasang,” Shirzadegan said. “It’s important for all international students to see that they aren’t here just to learn about integration; they can have an impact on the University too.”
The magazine is currently looking for more students to write articles, take photographs and help manage the magazine.
Cha said opportunities are open to everyone, not just journalism majors.
“We want to give everyone the chance to write about their culture,” Cha said.
The next issue is due out March 9.
Students interested in being a part of Korean Ducks can contact the staff at
[email protected]