At Gargoyle there is a widely held belief that we are part of this generation’s counter-culture.  Whether or not it is true now, or ever has been, the push towards a renegade image is quite evident in so many of Gargoyle’s better-published pieces.  There is an air of that alternative world, endlessly at odds with the mainstream, that accelerates the subject matter and the blatant satire within our magazine towards an inevitable head-on collision with “The Man.”  To define it, “The Man” is the enigmatic authority figure that every counter-cultural movement, if I may presumptuously say, since the beginning of established culture, has sworn as its enemy.  The desire to fight “The Man” has drawn countless writers and artists to our magazine; however, it becomes all the more difficult to swear allegiance against the shadowy face of the establishment when the resources of that same establishment are financing your education.

For most students at this University, not just within Gargoyle, the daunting price tag of education is a major concern that plays into daily decision making as well as long term plans.  Classically, money forms the basis for many collegiate questions. Do I eat lunch today or buy my math book?  Should I major in creative writing or do I want a job when I graduate?  Can I fit time to write for a magazine into my schedule or should I pick up a part time job? The availability and receipt of scholarships and financial aid undoubtedly alters those decisions. 

Sustained creativity, the kind of creativity that fuels a periodical humor magazine, flows best when one can spend his or her time thinking about interesting parodies of obscure Victorian novels rather than worrying about making tuition payments.  Gargoyle, in a similar manner to all of campus, has thrived and enjoyed the contributions of so many students who might not have had the opportunity to attend the University of Michigan had it not been for the help of financial assistance.  Federal grants, subsidies, and loans have undoubtedly supported multiple Gargoyle staffers over the years.  Rephrased, by proxy “The Man” has funded the development of our magazine.  Do we thank “The him” for “The his” contribution?  We would prefer to smugly revel in the idea that the very thing we are sticking it to is helping us do it.