Students may have been questioning the man standing on top of the black benches outside of the library on Friday afternoon, but for those who know Matt Hoke, senior history major, it was an important moment. The executive editor was the first to speak on behalf of the College’s newest periodical, The Perspective. The opinionated forum is available for students to voice their thoughts about not only the happenings on campus, but also those of the nation and world.
After reading the mission statement of the magazine, Hoke explained the story behind The Perspective. Mike Tracey, senior political science major, founder, as well as the Editor-in-Chief, worked with a staff of students to get the first issue published in time for its release on Friday, Oct. 2. Although Tracey could not be there for the launch day, the other editors and staff members made sure the magazine was acknowledged and distributed.
Tracey initially began the idea with help from managing editor and junior interactive multimedia major, Ron Seidel.
“I tried to start an independent newspaper, but that quickly failed,” Seidel said.
Seidel found help in Tracey and their thoughts and ideas became a reality.
After going to a conference that dealt with print and online organizations, Tracey found CampusProgress.org, which is part of The Center for American Progress. It is an online news group that focuses on helping young activists, journalists and artists get their voices heard, according to its Web site. The group agreed to fund the news magazine.
CampusProgress.org is currently the only source of funding, alloting $1,500 per semester, according to David Spett, publication associate at Campus Progress. The Perspective is seeking help from other advertisers, as well as advocacy groups, in order to help fund the printing costs of the magazine. With help from other organizations, The Perspective will be able to grow, according to Hoke.
Hoke said the publication will currently be printed on a monthly basis, but the staff hopes for more frequent publication eventually. Five hundred copies will be distributed around campus each month. The staff is aiming for approximately three issues this semester, Seidel said.
Topics discussed in the inaugural issue range from healthcare and marriage equality to religion and politics. According to Hoke, the opinions that are expressed in these articles and stories do not support only one view. The pages may include many liberal ideas, but (The Perspective) is looking to gather ideas from every type of opinion, Hoke said.
According to their Web site, The Perspective does not “pretend to be anything other than subjective. Each of our contributors is unapologetically on a certain side of the day’s political discourse.”
“In the future, we hope to be able to showcase perspectives from multiple view points, including the far right and the far left,” Seidel said.
Students can find The Perspective online at tcnjperspective.com.
