This academic year marks the 50th anniversary of the Loquitur, which was founded in 1959. Loquitur has developed into a nationally recognized college publication. Media, newspapers and technology have changed dramatically over the past five decades and the Loquitur has progressed along with the times.
The mission of the newspaper has always been to be the voice of the students, faculty, alumni and many others outside the Cabrini community. The staff practices responsible journalism, relying on our nation’s great guarantee of freedom of the press. It serves as an outlet for readers to affect change on and off campus. Loquitur’s motto is “you speak, we listen,” because the newspaper aspires to be a forum for the ideas of everyone on and around campus.
The Loquitur started off as a quarterly publication, then moved to a monthly, then a bi-weekly, followed by its current weekly print schedule that began in the early 1980s.
Advancements in technology have been the biggest change in the Loquitur over the past 50 years. In the beginning the newsroom only had one manual typewriter that five students had to use to produce every issue. In the early ’80s when the newspaper began to print weekly, the newsrooms got a few IBM computers, which were considered advanced during that time.
Over the years the Loquitur has also changed its direction on reporting. For the newspapers first few decades, the staff reported on mostly localized issues and things going on around campus. During the ’60s and ’70s there were more stories on national and global issues, dealing with topics like the Vietnam War. The newspaper became a lot more outspoken during this time.
Throughout the ’80s, ’90s and especially during the most recent years, the editorial staff and staff writers have been doing a lot more international and national reporting on many significant issues. This type of reporting that focuses on significant issues is something that you do not see many other college newspapers doing across the country.
In its 50 years the Loquitur has been a microcosm of the revolutionary changes seen in newspapers and media in general. It’s almost unfathomable to think of what the future holds and what possibilities are out there for the field of journalism and communication, even if the possibilities seem grim. As communication students in an ever-changing field we need to be more prepared than ever before, becoming more rounded in all media.
Each one of the 50 different staffs that have served the Cabrini community working while for the Loquitur have brought a new dynamic to the paper that have continued to make it a highly reputable publication.
The dedication and passion that each and every member of the Loquitur brings to the table is what keeps it flourishing. Most people pick up our newspaper, and many other newspapers, taking for granted what they have in front of them. The process of producing just one issue of a newspaper from beginning to end is truly a gift that takes an extreme amount of effort, time and planning.
The experience, all the intangible things taken away from being a part of the Loquitur and most importantly the memories are all benefits gained. Producing a newspaper with a team that is bigger than yourself and that will exist long after you’ve gone is something to be proud of and humbled by.
