The Towerlight
Encyclopedia
The Towerlight is the award-winning twice-weekly independent student newspaper at Towson University
. It is run by Towson students, and frequently updates the campus on events and news. In the summer of 2008, members of The Towerlight created Baltimore Student Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for aspiring student journalists, photographers, videographers and graphic designers. In July 2008, Towson University agreed to sign over the rights of The Towerlight to BSM.
According to the first issue of The Oriole, the very first newspapers were published in 1921 with no names, in order to advertise the school and increase enrollment. There were only two issues published in 1921, and the first monthly publication was created in January 1922.
Also in the first issue, then principal Lida Lee Tall
, wrote that the purpose of the newspaper was:
The original name (The Oriole) was a suggestion from one of the seniors at the time, Ellen Hutchinson. There were a pool of names suggested, and the students voted
unanimously for the name.
named The Towerlight No. 1 in its region and No. 2 nationally in the category "Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper Newspaper" at its annual conference in Houston in 2002.
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
. It is run by Towson students, and frequently updates the campus on events and news. In the summer of 2008, members of The Towerlight created Baltimore Student Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for aspiring student journalists, photographers, videographers and graphic designers. In July 2008, Towson University agreed to sign over the rights of The Towerlight to BSM.
History
Also in the first issue, then principal Lida Lee Tall
Lida Lee Tall
Lida Lee Tall was the sixth principal/president of State Teachers College at Towson .-Early life and education:...
, wrote that the purpose of the newspaper was:
- To give the students a medium for telling their life and their ideals to all groups of interested students in the state.
- To give the school its opportunity to place its stamp upon education.
- To give the state an opportunity to know what one of its normal schools is doing and aiming to do.
- To send a message out into the schools of other states.
The original name (The Oriole) was a suggestion from one of the seniors at the time, Ellen Hutchinson. There were a pool of names suggested, and the students voted
unanimously for the name.
Notable Editions
- In September 2009, The Towerlight published a weekly column titled "The Bed Post", which received widespread coverage following the resignation of the paper's then Editor-in-Chief.
- On April 17, 2007, one day after the Virginia Tech massacreVirginia Tech massacreThe Virginia Tech massacre was a school shooting that took place on April 16, 2007, on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. In two separate attacks, approximately two hours apart, the perpetrator, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 people...
, the staff at The Towerlight decided to make a special edition of the paper that recorded the reactions and sentiment towards what happened at Virginia Tech.
- On April 9, 2002, the Towerlight staff—then run by Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Hykes—put out a special edition covering the controversial resignation of the University's 11th President, Dr. Mark L. Perkins. The issue, entitled "Promise Unfulfilled: Perkins Resigns", covered student, staff and faculty reactions, the historic events that led to Perkins' eventual resignation, as well as all of the highlights of Perkins' tumultuous run as president. The issue was recognized with a Region Two Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
.
Recognition
The Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
named The Towerlight No. 1 in its region and No. 2 nationally in the category "Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper Newspaper" at its annual conference in Houston in 2002.
Notable alumni
- Brian StelterBrian StelterBrian Stelter is a media reporter for the New York Times and the former editor of the news-related blog TVNewser.com.-Biography:...
- New York Times reporter; he served as The Towerlight's editor-in-chief from 2005 to 2007. - Bill Stetka - The director of public relations for the Baltimore Orioles, former Towerlight editor-in-chief.
- Paul McMullenPaul McMullenPaul McMullen is an American middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres. Paul is known by some as "the pride of Cadillac" after qualifying and competing in the 1996 summer olympics....
- The editor of the Catholic Review, McMullen worked for many years with The Baltimore Sun covering college, professional and amateur sports. He was The Sun's beat reporter for Michael Phelps and wrote a book about the swimmer following the 2004 summer Olympics. - Robert Richard HieronimusRobert Richard HieronimusRobert Richard Hieronimus, Ph.D. is an educator, artist, author, activist and has been an acknowledged pioneer in the "New Paradigm" movement since 1971.-Early years and education:...
- artist, author and radio host; Towerlight columnist in the early 1960s.