The Fed (Columbia newspaper)

and P.T. Waters, the paper has undergone many changes in mission, style, form, and success, though it has experienced relatively few interruptions in production since the publication of its first issues.

History

Columbia's oldest student newspaper, "The Fed" was founded in 1986.

1986-1988

The early "Fed" carried the full "Federalist Paper" masthead and advertised itself as "a newspaper in the tradition of Columbians Hamilton and Jay." The founding members were "a libertarian, a conservative, and a socialist (although no one knows which was which)." [ [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume15/5/fedhistory.shtml Marhoefer, Laurie. "The History of Columbia's Oldest Student Paper," "The Fed," Volume 15, Issue 5.] ] The paper's mission was to create a "classically liberal" forum with content centered primarily on issues and news topics considered "politically delicate" at Columbia, such as race relations, discussions as to Barnard's place in the newly co-ed institution, and whether anyone at the school actually listened to the August WKCR. ["The Federalist Paper," Volumes 1-2. Available by special request at the paper's archives.] Although welcoming articles from all points of view, the tone tended towards conservativism, although elements of the iconoclastic style of humor that would come to define the paper's "golden era" are also present. Even as early as the first few issues, the paper referred to itself as "the Fed" and wrote editorials in an informal, personal style. [Ibid.]

1988-1992

By 1990, "The Federalist Paper" was already feeling the pinch of low content. Issues from the era display an increasing disregard for layout and copy-editing (a charge, ironically, often levelled at the paper regardless of the format), a decline in advertising from former stalwarts such as Coors and Kaplan, and an editorial board that drew almost exclusively conservative commentators. The board of 1992, after a fierce debate, recommitted itself to the "classically liberal" stance of the founders and began a charge towards diversity of opinions. ["The Federalist Paper," Volume 7, Issue 1.]

1992-1996

Despite a re-affirmation of the older mandate, the paper continued to slide. Volume 15's Editor-in-Chief Laurie Marhoefer later attributed the decline to the fact that the paper's potential non-conservative audience was lured by the then-progressive "Spectator" and the socialist-sponsored "Modern Times" (long-since defunct). [ [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume15/5/fedhistory.shtml Marhoefer.] ] The paper received funding from the ultra-conservative Intercollegiate Studies Institute, but with it came a certain expectation that a conservative tone would be upheld above all else. [Ibid.]

1996-1998

Mirroring Columbia's own campaign to upgrade its image, editor-in-chief Marc Doussard organized a massive layout overhaul and placed an increased emphasis on local social commentary. "They Watch," a regular feature, began running on Page 12. Topics ranged from sex to alcoholism to grade inflation. Readership of the paper increased dramatically. ["The Federalist Paper," Volume 11, Issues 3-5.]

But success came at a price. The paper's staff became increasingly insular, refusing to recruit members as older staffers graduated, believing itself capable of running on nothing. By Fall 1997, the staff dwindled to two editors, who produced only one mammoth issue. As the spring semester of 1998 opened, their layout computer crashed, taking with it all records and templates. "The Federalist Paper" was finished. [Volume 13, Issue 1.]

1999-2003

In the fall of 1998, a few readers of the older "Federalist" elected to restart the paper, committing to the same peculiar blend of viewpoints, with a focus on the humor and absurdism that made the previous incarnation appealing. After a few false starts (no one on the staff had any experience in laying out a newspaper, and as such the initial issues were printed in a giant font) and an anonymous donation, "The Fed" began to produce regular content. [ [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume15/5/fedhistory.shtml The Fed - The History of Columbia’s Oldest Student Paper ] ]

Unlike the prior incarnation, however, the editors of "The Fed" recruited heavily and often, with antics like the "Fed Bash" (see below) and their Orientation issues distributed to every incoming student's dorm room providing fresh faces and new ideas. As those that remembered "The Federalist Paper" graduated and publications like "The Onion" rose to national prominence, "The Fed" moved firmly into the "humor" category of publications.

The logo designed by Ned Ehrbar, featuring two stick figures in front of Low Library engaging in sodomy labeled as "Columbia" and "You," became a campus staple. By 2003, however, "The Fed" began to gather complaints. Some readers believed "The Fed" resorted to cheap jokes worthy of radio shock jocks, not a "subversive newspaper" (as the masthead then read).

2004

In February 2004, "The Fed" published a cartoon from the ongoing series "Whacky Fun Whitey" entitled [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v2/archives/19/19.5/images/whitey.html "Blacky Fun Whitey."] Columbia was already experiencing racial tensions on campus, after the Conservative Club authorized an "Affirmative Action Bake Sale" where items were sold at various prices depending on a person's race, gender, or political affiliation. [ [http://www.columbiaspectator.com/media/storage/paper865/news/2004/02/06/News/Bake-Sale.Prompts.Debate.In.Lerner-2035062.shtml?norewrite200612052247&sourcedomain=www.columbiaspectator.com McKean, Jacob. "Bake Sale Prompts Debate in Lerner." "Columbia Daily Spectator," February 6, 2004.] ] Many took the cartoon to be demeaning to African-Americans and the concept of Black History Month, and coming after the events of the previous weeks, it was the last straw. Students formed groups calling for immediate action and multicultural awareness, alleging an insidious culture of discrimination was growing from ignorance at Columbia. [ [http://www.columbiaspectator.com/media/storage/paper865/news/2004/02/27/News/Protesters.Present.Bollinger.With.Demands-2034778.shtml?norewrite200612052249&sourcedomain=www.columbiaspectator.com Sellers, Morgan & Matthew Carhart. "Protesters Present Bollinger with Demands." "Columbia Daily Spectator," February 27, 2004.] ] Soon, cable news came calling. The entire editorial board and the artist published a full-page apology in the next issue. But the damage had been done, and to this day, "The Fed" receives backhanded references from other campus news outlets, especially the "Spectator," as "the racially insensitive student publication."

Readership began to decline over the next two years. In addition, though the paper recruited new members in fall 2004, the staff slowly trended towards insularity again, with many deserting for publications such as the "Blue and White". The paper was criticised for lack of content and its increasingly dated design.

2006-Present

The 2006-2007 academic year marks "The Fed"'s 21st anniversary. It opened with a new layout design and included non-fictional material. Interviews with subjects such as [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume21/8/jonvoightinterview.shtml Jon Voight] , [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume22/1/alfranken.shtml Al Franken] and [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume22/3/wozniak.shtml Steve Wozniak] resulted in positive responses. Stand-alone comics such as the " [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume22/1/prezbot.shtml Prez-Bo] " also turned heads, and a large recruitment effort brought a bumper crop of new artists - making projects such as 22.2's full-page [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume22/2/index.shtml collaborative cover] illustration possible. The humor content, too, has steadily improved, with articles emphasizing topical humor such as the [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume22/2/drdoom.shtml Minuteman debacle] and displaying a more [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thefed/v3/volume22/3/mythbusters.shtml concentrated style] in general. Readership is still estimated to be lower than the 1999-2001 era, but for the first time seems to be trending upwards.

The Fed Bash

Since 2000, "The Fed" has held an annual spring event, "Fed Bash," which features live bands and performance artists.

Organization

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the content of the paper. Recent editors have included:

• Anwar the Chud, Editor 1623-24
• A duck riding on a horse, editor, 1890-1892.
• Laurie Marhoefer and Tom Bellin, Editors, 1998-2000.
• Anna Chodos, Editor-in-Chief, 2000-2001.
• Meghan Keane, Editor-in-Chief, 2001-2002.
• Paul Campion, Editor-in-Chief, 2002.
• Kate Sullivan, Editor-in-Chief, 2002-2004.
• Mike Ilardi, Editor-in-Chief, 2004-2005.
• Sam Jenning, Editor-in-Chief, 2005-2006.
• Kareem Shaya, Editor-in-Chief, 2006-2007.
• Chas Carey, Editor-in-Chief, 2007-2008.
• Sam Reisman, Editor-in-Chief, 2008-present.

Publisher

The Publisher handles the more technical aspects of the paper including: printing, business and advertising and serving as point person for interactions with Columbia bureaucracy, as well as being the primary organizer of the year-end Fed Bash. Recent Publishers have included:

Edward Ehrbar, Publisher, 2001-2003.

Ethan Heitner, Publisher, 2003-2004.

Bill McLaughlin, Publisher, 2004-2006.

Russell Spitzer, Publisher, 2006-2007.

Michael Bredin, Publisher, 2007-2008.

Sophie Litschwartz, Publisher, 2008-present.

Notable "Fed" alumni

*Neil M. Gorsuch, judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
*Andrew Levy, ombudsman and contributor to Fox News Channel's late-night show Red Eye

External links

* [http://www.the-fed.org "The Fed" website]

References