The Albany Student Press: A Legacy of Student Journalism at UAlbany
The Albany Student Press (ASP), the official newspaper of the University at Albany, State University of New York, boasts a rich history as one of the oldest continuously published and independent college newspapers in the United States. From its humble beginnings as a monthly periodical to its current status as a comprehensive news agency, the ASP has chronicled the evolution of the university and the surrounding world.
From "The Normal School Echo" to "Albany Student Press": A Timeline of Evolution
The story of the ASP begins in 1892 with the establishment of "The Normal School Echo." This monthly publication served as a platform for student work and provided a glimpse into campus life at the time. In 1916, the paper transitioned to a weekly format and adopted the name "State College News." This marked a significant step towards becoming a more comprehensive news source for the college community.
As the institution evolved into a major research university, the newspaper's name was officially changed to the "Albany Student Press" in 1963. This change reflected the paper's expanding coverage of world, national, and state events, catering to a growing and increasingly informed readership. By the 1960s, the newspaper had a growing readership, increased coverage of world, national, and state events.
Format and Content: Reflecting the Times
Over the years, the ASP has adapted its format and content to meet the changing needs of its audience. For many years, the paper was published twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Later, the publication schedule shifted to once a week. The ASP is released on Mondays during the school year. The newspaper has evolved into a comprehensive news agency with a circulation of 8,000.
The ASP covers a wide range of topics, including campus news, sports, entertainment, and opinion columns written by students. This diverse content ensures that the paper remains relevant and engaging for the entire university community. It is published by the Albany Student Press Corporation.
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Independence and Funding: A Student-Run Enterprise
The Albany Student Press prides itself on its independence. As of Fall 2022, the ASP receives club funding from the UAlbany Student Association, but continues to have no advisement or managing affiliation with the university.
The University at Albany Student Association, established in 1923, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit undergraduate student government and the largest student-run organization on campus. It focuses on enhancing the undergraduate experience by funding over 180 student groups and events, including social, cultural, academic, and professional organizations. The association's history dates back to the early 20th century and has evolved through various constitutional changes and initiatives to better serve the student body and address contemporary issues.
The University at Albany Student Association is organized into distinct branches: Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Board of Finance, and the Office of the Comptroller, each with specific roles. The Executive Branch manages daily operations and strategic initiatives. The Legislative Branch, through the Senate, voices and enacts student concerns via legislation. The Judicial Branch oversees fairness and adherence to governance documents. The Office of the Comptroller handles the financial oversight of the association's budget, while the Board of Finance ensures the responsible allocation of funds to support student activities and governance.
Every contribution you make through the Student Activity Fee is a cornerstone in building an enriching and vibrant student life at UAlbany. This fee, a modest $110 per semester included in your tuition, is the lifeblood of our +$2.5 million budget, dedicated entirely to enhancing your college experience. From grand events that bring our community together to impactful community service projects and beyond, your support ensures a dynamic and inclusive campus environment.
A Look Back: Archive Dive
The State College News eventually shifted into the ASP, complete with a slew of logos and many more editions. By 1984, it was clear a new pattern had been set with two editions per week: Tuesday and Friday. Albany Student Press, Vol. 71, No. 22. Dated for May 1, 1984.
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The headline, “Top SA executives take pay cuts in new budget,” by Jon Willmott, caught my eye as it reminded me of an article I had written last year on the Student Association’s (SA) budget. In the 1984 headliner, the President, Vice President, Controller and Central Council Chair reduced their stipend to $2,000. In 2023, the SA president, Jalen Rose, reduced his stipend to $8,500 from $9,609.60. It is interesting to compare the two stipends, especially since inflation makes $1 in 1984 worth $3.01 today.
Throughout the paper there was a lot of focus on gay rights, which makes sense given the time. Just below the headline is “SUNYA gets $5,000 grant to fight homophobia,” by Aileen Brown. In addition, page 18 has a full ad sponsored by SA that says “It’s great to be gay!” and encourages UAlbany students to wear blue jeans on May 2, 1984 in celebration of Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week, the date of which seems to have shifted since 1984.
There was also an ad on page seven for the Chinese Students Association, now the Chinese Student Association (CSA), noting the upcoming elections and general meeting. 1984 was only six years after the club’s founding, and that the club at this time either already had the budget to or made a deal with the ASP to get the ad in place. It also reminded me, as someone who grew up with cell phones abound, how valuable a newspaper could be in organizing people.
Starting on page 4 is a sports story, “Six Great Danes find success in Sweden,” by Marc Schwarz. The article highlighted six men’s basketball players who found success in playing or coaching in Sweden - something Schwarz dubs “The Stockholm Pipeline.” It made me think about the women’s basketball team and Helene Haegerstrand, a Swedish basketball player who played for UAlbany for five years. This year marked her last year with the program.
In a fascinating reversal, instead of Great Danes going abroad to Sweden, Swedish players have become a consistent part of the women’s basketball program under head coach Colleen Mullen, according to Christian Hince’s earlier ASP article on Haegerstrand’s departure.
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A larger item I found interesting was the length of the paper - 24 pages - which is doubly impressive given that this was one of two weekly editions. It shows how passionate the student journalists of UAlbany were at the time, but it also shows how much space was taken up by advertising. Pages 18 and 19 have full page advertisements, while page 14 has “Classified,” a section that had small ads for housing, jobs, insurance, and personal messages. There was a personal message addressed “To the most beautiful rose,” by a certain “Little Prince,” which reads “Live well. It’s life’s greatest revenge.” It is very similar to a quote by English poet George Herbert: “Living well is the best revenge,” though the aforementioned “Little Prince” has added their own little twist. There was also the comic, “Otis,” by R.A. Hayes.
In the fall of 2011, the paper saw several changes to its design. Among the changes are a new masthead featuring the school's purple and yellow-gold colors with no logo as in years prior.
Resources
New York Times - Full access includes News, Cooking, The Athletic, Games, Wirecutter, audio features, and podcasts.Black Life in America - African American history from the past to the present. obituaries and death notices, covering from 1704 to today. Includes coverage from all 50 states, rare content from the mid-1900s, and original obituary images.Britannica School - Offers thousands of up-to-date, curated, and curriculum-relevant articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, research tools, and recommended Web sites.Britannica Escolar - Discover the leading knowledge-building resource that is universally trusted for accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish.GALE In Context: Elementary - Contains over 550 age-appropriate magazines for grades K-5.GALE In Context: Opposing Viewpoints - Provides a great resource for current events, critical thinking, and writing students. Contains a range of perspectives on many important issues, with over 13,000 pro/con viewpoints.GALE Academic OneFile - Contains peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world’s leading journals and reference sources.GALE General OneFile - Contains over 12,000 periodicals, newspapers, reference books, and multimedia sources, over half of which are full text. The backfile extends nearly 30 years.GALE Business: Insights - Includes company profiles, industry reports and financial reports, as well as business magazines and newspapers.GALE OneFile: Health and Medicine - Includes over 2,800 health journals and magazines; many are full text.Cypress Resume - An online resume, cover letter, and reference list tool that is fairly easy to use and geared toward those in need of a basic resume. Complete a resume in minutes that is tailored to your skills and strengths.NOVELny - Provided by the New York State Library, this collection of databases is accessible to New York State residents.
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