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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 5, 2016 13:28:09 GMT -5
It looks like the long-ago adage of "Stop the Presses!!" has come to mark the demise of the student newspaper. The Crusader Twitter page still exists: twitter.com/thehccrusaderBut the website domain seems to now be controlled by a business marketing firm. www.thehccrusader.com/Is this the result of: a.) general student apathy b.) Ann's admissions policies coming to roost c.) a sign of the times (decline of printed newspapers) d.) advertiser dis-interest e.) Phreek prematurely jumping to conclusions. f.) other As a former Patcher editor, its sad to see a world where communicating in 120 characters or less is paramount..
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Post by rgs318 on Sept 5, 2016 14:14:44 GMT -5
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 5, 2016 15:58:59 GMT -5
It would seem that nobody was willing to pay the few dollars it costs to renew the website domain, so someone bought it. I went to the SGA webpage looking for a budget, didn't find one, but did see this other indicator of how times change. Back in the day, students would subscribe to the T&G, NY Times, Globe, etc. I recognize that one does on-line subscriptions these days, but on the SGA Services list, this: As for WCHC, the schedule shows one hour of programming. college.holycross.edu/wchc/Schedule.html
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 5, 2016 17:31:43 GMT -5
Coincidently, I was cleaning up my "favorites" as some have lost that distinction over time. I happened to click on the one for The Crusader and got the totally different one PP refers to and thought I had just saved the link wrong. Until PP's post it now makes sense.
My Dad was a sports cartoonist for the predecessor The Tomahawk and son was sports editor and editor-in-chief of The Crusader.
As we say here, sad, so sad.
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Post by Sader Fan on Sept 5, 2016 18:03:23 GMT -5
I was a sports photographer during the Vicens, Potter, Perry years. Very sad😪
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Post by sarasota on Sept 5, 2016 19:27:29 GMT -5
inexplicable. Is it spam?
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Post by matunuck on Sept 5, 2016 20:06:02 GMT -5
Perhaps a name change is coming?
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 6, 2016 6:07:31 GMT -5
I did find the SGA budget, www.holycross.edu/sites/default/files/files/sga/sga_budget_fy_2017_final.pdfwhich allocates $5,400 to the Crusader this school year. (Total SGA projected revenue is nearly $900K). And the college continues touting the virtues and life's lessons of being on the Crusader staff. www.holycross.edu/college-marketing-and-communications/college-publicationsAnd there is a somewhat somnolent Twitter account, which has the bad link twitter.com/thehccrusader______________________ In going to whois, this reply: As there is more than one way to skin a Whois cat, I tried another site: It appears the domain was taken over on June 15, 2016, the new domain registrant supposedly lives here Which is a non-existent street. But which leads to the real registrar: Victor Smushkevich, CEO of SmartStreetMedia in North Hollywood CA ____________________________________________ Student newspaper at Lafayette in financial trouble. www.collegemediamatters.com/2015/02/13/student-editor-serious-concerns-about-future-of-oldest-college-newspaper-in-pennsylvania/Lastly, IMO, without an independent student newspaper, the first tenet of mushroom management could prevail: 'Feed 'em s*it, and keep them in the dark'.
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Post by rgs318 on Sept 6, 2016 6:40:31 GMT -5
Perhaps a name change is coming? That is an interesting thought. But, I think that the Crusader has gone the way of many larger periodicals. It is indeed sad. (Perhaps my collection of old issues will now rise in value..how's that for positive spin?
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Post by sarasota on Sept 6, 2016 7:40:40 GMT -5
Is the Purple Patcher next?
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Post by matunuck on Sept 6, 2016 7:56:36 GMT -5
I can see dropping the printed version but an online paper is more about students learning to run something and sharpening their organizational skills and non-academic writing. Fr. Boroughs has mentioned strengthening writing across the board at HC so it's a bit surprising, if true, to let something that's produced a handful of very good writers just wither away.
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Post by matunuck on Sept 6, 2016 8:10:36 GMT -5
I am not posting this link to spur a political debate. I repeat: this is not a proxy for political debate. Just an example of another HC student-run publication. Sure there are others online and/or printed. The more, the merrier, I say. Any others out there? Curious to know -- sites.google.com/a/g.holycross.edu/the-fenwick-review/
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Post by clmetsfan on Sept 6, 2016 9:01:28 GMT -5
I'm going to check with my friends still working on campus to confirm, but if true, this is very upsetting news.
Quick story -- when I took over one of the EIC positions my junior year, I learned that the paper was in deep debt due to a lack of advertising revenue, and ready to be completely shut down if we didn't turn things around. After a two-week hiatus, we implemented a huge increase in outreach for ad sales, scaled the paper back from 28 pages to 20, and removed all color printing, we were able to start printing again. The result was, I believe, a more efficient content flow and better overall design (I actually prefer B&W to color in printed newspapers).
Ten years later, if the paper is now kaput because it was allowed to wither and die on the vine, I'm going to be pretty pissed.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 6, 2016 9:45:09 GMT -5
matunuck, Fenwick Review sites.google.com/a/g.holycross.edu/the-fenwick-review/this-issueList of HC publications, all but one have student input and/or student run. (Scroll down) www.holycross.edu/college-marketing-and-communications/college-publicationsThere may be others that are not hosted by the college's web server. ________________________ If a print version of the newspaper has become too expensive with a lack of advertisers, then an electronic version (either using newspaper format software, or pdf) is easy enough to do (and inexpensive).. I expect the Patcher to become an electronic document. Instead of static photos, there would be video. I wholeheartedly agree with Fr. B. on his emphasis on writing.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Sept 6, 2016 9:47:39 GMT -5
RIP in peace.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 7, 2016 8:12:44 GMT -5
This might not be an exceptionally popular opinion but I'll toss it out there.
Without some kind of official academic initiative, course of study or major tied to the Crusader and WCHC, their demise is the unfortunate but inevitable result. I was sports editor of the Crusader for a year and did a lot with WCHC, and I found out pretty quickly that the administration only cared insofar as nothing exceptionally controversial was printed in the paper or said on the airwaves. Besides that we didn't have any administrative or faculty oversight. There might've been faculty advisors of some sort but I don't remember them being terribly present or useful in any way.
That being said, the Crusader and WCHC were wonderful activities for me in college and at the time I had a passion and desire to do something in sports, and thankfully I've been able to parlay those experiences (albeit in a roundabout way) into a career. But without a bona fide journalism or communications program to beef up the Crusader or WCHC, their long term viability comes into serious question as we're apparently seeing now. Considering how far technology has come even in the 15 years since I graduated, you can write your own version of Purple Pennings as a blog or host your own podcast from your dorm room. Without an academic program that uses the Crusader and WCHC has avenues through which a student can have real life applications to what's being taught in class, they unfortunately lose their usefulness.
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Post by hchoops on Sept 7, 2016 8:23:17 GMT -5
Disagree Every college activity does not necessarily have to have practical implications for the future. Very few, if any, of the athletes at HC will have any practical training for their future through their sport, yet I doubt that they would not trade all the hours for anything else.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 7, 2016 8:26:42 GMT -5
To add: this sort of plays into my theory that the College should look into actively adding disciplines of study that are more specialized. HC can still hang its hat on its liberal arts philosophy, but it has to also find ways to remain competitive in a marketplace that is seemingly looking for more specialized graduates. Not everybody that goes to HC is necessarily going to med school or law school, finance or high-end law enforcement (FBI, CIA, etc.). Those days are gone.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 7, 2016 8:32:32 GMT -5
Disagree Every college activity does not necessarily have to have practical implications for the future. Very few, if any, of the athletes at HC will have any practical training for their future through their sport, yet I doubt that they would not trade all the hours for anything else. I'm not saying all college activities must have practical implications for the future, but my point is that it would potentially help in this case and perhaps in a lot of other cases as well. I'm also speaking from experience. If you put an academic initiative or a tie-in behind the Crusader and WCHC, both would be less likely to die on the vine as is apparently happening now. Athletics is an entirely different animal and is way, way, way more time consuming that the Crusader or WCHC ever was for me and for a lot of people. Athletics consumes the lives of athletes and is more than an "activity." They're also learning skills of teamwork, time management and leadership that one could easily apply to real world instances down the line. EDIT: The difference is the commitment by the College and how that commitment translates to student interest. Like I said previously, there was very little faculty oversight or interest or involvement in WCHC and the Crusader when I was there. The basic gist of the admin's position was interpreted as "don't do anything stupid and you'll be fine." That's great and all, but that's a recipe that promotes student involvement only to the point of it being a passing interest for many. The prevailing feeling in this thread is that it's a shame things like the Crusader and WCHC are losing traction with current students. I'm just presenting various reasons as to why that's happening.
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Post by matunuck on Sept 7, 2016 8:37:24 GMT -5
Writing clearly and concisely will put HC grads far above most other grads in the workplace. Emphasis on writing and organizational skills should flow through all majors at HC.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 7, 2016 9:34:31 GMT -5
Agree that not everyone who graduates from Holy Cross will end up being a doctor, lawyer or priest. That is why we have "affinity groups" for alums and students interested in other careers in which there can be great success with a liberal arts degree.
Here's one:
Alumni Insurance Professionals Network
The insurance industry is one of the largest employer segments in the United States employing 2.5 million people in 2015, according the U.S. Department of Labor, with over 6,000 insurance companies and over 38,000 independent insurance agencies.
This industry is a linchpin of U.S. economic growth and stability, providing a key financial backstop that allows other industries to take acceptable risks.
Most importantly, insurance provides financial security, protection and peace of mind for individuals, families and businesses, which aligns with the Holy Cross mission of “men and women for others.”
The insurance industry has long sought out graduates of liberal arts colleges and universities to provide necessary critical thinking skills and ethical leadership roles. [emphasis added] Holy Cross has been and continues to be well-placed to fill those leadership roles with her talented graduates.
The Holy Cross Alumni Insurance Professionals affinity network was created to further our goals of encouraging professional community and fellowship among the alumni of the College of the Holy Cross. All are welcome, including those who have made their careers in the insurance industry and those considering such a career. We will share ideas through online exchanges, webinars and on-campus activities. In doing so, we will help share professional expertise among our community, help one another develop shared business opportunities, and encourage students to consider career options in one of the largest and most successful industries in the world economy.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 7, 2016 12:07:57 GMT -5
The insurance industry has long sought out graduates of liberal arts colleges and universities to provide necessary critical thinking skills and ethical leadership roles. [emphasis added] Holy Cross has been and continues to be well-placed to fill those leadership roles with her talented graduates. I had a cup of coffee in the insurance industry. The problem is, the behavior I saw by some people was everything but ethical. But that's a discussion for a different day and thread.
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Post by Ray on Sept 7, 2016 20:42:16 GMT -5
Writing clearly and concisely will put HC grads far above most other grads in the workplace. Emphasis on writing and organizational skills should flow through all majors at HC. Seconded. As another former sports editor, I'd be deeply disappointed if The Crusader really is shut down. Hope it pops up with an issue in a couple of weeks.
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Post by sarasota on Sept 7, 2016 23:50:24 GMT -5
Having been a licensed participant in both the insurance industry and the securities industry, I can say that they both have bad actors.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 8, 2016 5:58:33 GMT -5
While it is too bad that JRG and Sarasota encountered some people in the insurance industry that were "bad actors" or "everything but ethical," that can assuredly be found in every industry, including the medical and legal professions. But like those, in insurance, the number is very small. Insurance has a number of professional organizations with stiff ethical standards.
Trying to get back on point, a liberal arts education prepares one for many careers and there does not have to be a direct correlation of specific coursework to a specific job. Holy Cross is not a technical school. The activities outside the classroom, whether on a varsity team or the college newspaper or radio station or working in SPUD or the Nativity School are all part of the learning environment at Holy Cross teaching teamwork and leadership and a perspective of interacting and thinking of others beyond oneself. The critical thinking skills and ethical behavior one learns on Mt. St. James are invaluable.
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