Students at TST BOCES Regional Alternative School (RAS) are taking their creativity to the next level with an exciting new initiative—a student-produced Zine titled R.A.S. Ink. This project, led by RAS English Language Arts (ELA) students and their teacher, Justin Brodeur, provides a platform for student voices through writing, art, and multimedia content.
Zines (short for "magazines" or "fanzines") have historically been independent, self-published works that amplify voices outside of mainstream media. Originating as early as the 1930s within science fiction fan communities, Zines gained momentum in social movements of the 1970s and ‘80s as a way for people to share their thoughts, creativity, and activism allowing for unfiltered, grassroots expression. Today, they continue to serve as an accessible and expressive medium for artists, writers, and marginalized voices, giving creators full control over their narratives and distribution.
R.A.S Ink follows in this tradition, giving students a creative outlet to share their thoughts, experiences, and talents with the community. Available both in print and online, R.A.S Ink will showcase student work ranging from poetry and essays to visual art and possibly even podcasts.
“I wanted students to have an opportunity to create something from the ground up; to work collaboratively and build an outlet for not only their voices, but for future students,” said Brodeur. R.A.S. Ink gives students a space to express themselves creatively and share their unique voices with the broader community.”
In addition to being available online at tstboces.org/RAS, physical copies of R.A.S Ink are being distributed throughout Ithaca at popular local spots, including:
Ithaca Bakery (Triphammer)
Adam’s Corner Cafe (Community Corners)
Press Cafe (Press Bay Alley - Green St.)
Botanist Coffeehouse (Tioga Street)
Autumn Leaves Books
Teen Center @ Ithaca Public Library
GreenStar (Dewitt Mall)
Buffalo Street Books
Gimme Coffee (Hanshaw & Cayuga locations)
The History Center
The Snack Shack
Rashida Sawyer Bakery (Green Street)
Odyssey Bookstore (Green Street)
The project not only highlights student creativity but also fosters community engagement by placing student work directly into the hands of local residents. "The community has been incredibly supportive of R.A.S. Ink from the beginning and I’d like to thank them for that. Seeing their work out in the greater Ithaca area has been an incredibly rewarding experience for them," Brodeur added.
Community members are encouraged to pick up a copy of R.A.S Ink at any of the participating locations or explore the online version to support and celebrate the work of RAS students.
For more information, visit tstboces.org/RAS.
R.A.S. Ink Volume 1 - Online
R.A.S. Ink Volume 1 - PDF