The Bates Student
Encyclopedia
The Bates Student, established in 1873 is the student-run newspaper
of Bates College
in Lewiston, Maine
. The Student is run entirely by students and the administration does not interfere with the paper's operations. The Student is one of the oldest continuously-published college weeklies in the United States
, and the oldest co-ed college weekly in the country.
The Student has been intermittently online since the late 1990s. Once a year The Student runs a spoof edition commonly known as the "Bates Spudent." The 2011 Spudent was voted the best spudent in recent history by the editorial staff.
The Bates Student was one of many college newspapers founded shortly after the Civil War and describes itself as "the nation's oldest continuously co-ed college weekly," although this fact is hotly contested among other college newspapers.
The Bates Student, founded in 1873, was originally a newspaper and literary magazine, as a successor to the Seminary Advocate (1855–1863) and College Courant (ca. 1864-1872). Among its earliest editors and writers in the 1870s were African Americans and women. Originally issued bi-weekly, it has been a weekly since the early twentieth century. It is one of the oldest continuously-published college weeklies in the U.S., which means that it has been in publication every academic year that Bates has been in session since it began publishing weekly.
The Student was originally laid out in a smaller literary magazine format and included literary material such as poems and fiction alongside its news. In 1879, the literary society formed its own publication, The Garnet, and The Student has primarily focused on reporting news. In the early twentieth century, the Student abandoned the literary magazine format and moved to a larger broadsheet
layout in keeping with the times.
The Student office has its own archives, with issues dating back to 1873. The Muskie Archives and Special Collection Library at Bates College has a nearly complete archive of past Student issues in print. The library also has issues of the Seminary Advocate and College Courant dating back to the 1850s and 1860s.
The Student endured some short-lived competition when "The John Galt Press" was being published at Bates, but The Student is currently the college's only campus publication. The Maine College Republicans and Democrats also distributed their college newspapers briefly at Bates but have not done so in quite some time.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
of Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
in Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
. The Student is run entirely by students and the administration does not interfere with the paper's operations. The Student is one of the oldest continuously-published college weeklies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the oldest co-ed college weekly in the country.
Circulation and Distribution
Approximately 1,900 copies of The Student printed every week and distributed to hundreds of alumni, parents, and other friends of the College. The paper is published each Tuesday while classes are in session and is distributed to New Commons (~1,000 copies), the Chase Hall Post Office (~400), the newsroom in Chase Hall (~100), the Lane Hall mail room (~300, to be sent to trustees, alumni, subscribers and students studying abroad), Ladd Library (~25), and Pettengill Hall (~75).The Student has been intermittently online since the late 1990s. Once a year The Student runs a spoof edition commonly known as the "Bates Spudent." The 2011 Spudent was voted the best spudent in recent history by the editorial staff.
History
The Bates Student, founded in 1873, was originally a newspaper and literary magazine, as a successor to the Seminary Advocate (1855–1863) and College Courant (ca. 1864-1872). Among its earliest editors and writers in the 1870s were African Americans and women. Originally issued bi-weekly, it has been a weekly since the early twentieth century. It is one of the oldest continuously-published college weeklies in the U.S., which means that it has been in publication every academic year that Bates has been in session since it began publishing weekly.
The Student was originally laid out in a smaller literary magazine format and included literary material such as poems and fiction alongside its news. In 1879, the literary society formed its own publication, The Garnet, and The Student has primarily focused on reporting news. In the early twentieth century, the Student abandoned the literary magazine format and moved to a larger broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
layout in keeping with the times.
The Student office has its own archives, with issues dating back to 1873. The Muskie Archives and Special Collection Library at Bates College has a nearly complete archive of past Student issues in print. The library also has issues of the Seminary Advocate and College Courant dating back to the 1850s and 1860s.
The Student endured some short-lived competition when "The John Galt Press" was being published at Bates, but The Student is currently the college's only campus publication. The Maine College Republicans and Democrats also distributed their college newspapers briefly at Bates but have not done so in quite some time.
Notable Student Writers and Editors
- Bryant GumbelBryant GumbelBryant Charles Gumbel is an American television journalist and sportscaster. He is best known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC's The Today Show. He is the younger brother of sportscaster Greg Gumbel.-Early life:...
, sports columnist - Henry Chandler, early African American politician and attorney