EIU publication offers Fresh! look
CHARLESTON — Lauren Thomas had a personal question after she transferred to Eastern Illinois University from Harold Washington Community College in Chicago.
Being an African-American woman, she wondered why other students of her race come to Eastern in downstate Illinois. Weren't there other colleges where they might share their educational experiences with more people of color?
She had a unique way of answering that question after she got a cordial welcome at the recruiting desk for a student publication on campus. She ended up doing a news story for Fresh!, the student newspaper formerly known as Minority Today at Eastern. Now she is a staff writer for Fresh!.
“That was my first story for Fresh!. Historically, black colleges and universities have drawn more students. But I found out most students today don't want to be stuck in that box of where they have to go for college,” Thomas explained.
Fresh! gets outside the box as a publication staffed mostly by students of color. It is offering a different perspective on university and community life, said Dana Jackson, editor in chief of Fresh!.
“I want to influence the lifestyles of people who come in contact with Fresh!. A lot of people don't understand how important it is to have a paper like Fresh! at Eastern,” Jackson said.
Just the recent name change to “Fresh!” shows how the publication staffed mostly by black students is evolving. For nearly 30 years, Minority Today served as a jumping off point for black students interested in journalism or professional writing careers. It was created by the late Jim Saunders, the first black journalism instructor at Eastern, to give African-American students a chance to work outside a mostly white college newsroom until they honed their skills and confidence.
“That was Jim's brainchild. He said having a publication on campus for students of color would help them learn the news business and help the journalism industry by bringing in more black journalists into newsrooms,” said Dave Reed, who taught in and headed the Eastern journalism department for 30 years before retiring in 2004.
“He said it was intimidating for some students to go into a newsroom filled only with white kids,” Reed said. “The journalism department also wanted to help the newspaper industry find more black journalists trained in colleges. Papers couldn't see America as it looked back then. You couldn't get the perspective of people of color with only white reporters.”
Fresh! is already demonstrating a fresh start on how the publication is perceived by the Eastern community.
“Anyone can write for us. And that is why some of the students wanted a change in the name because `minority' is not a term people of color appreciate. They felt there was nothing `minor' about them,” said Janice Collins, current faculty adviser for Fresh! and an assistant journalism professor.
“When we were talking about a change of the name I suggested we try a `fresh start' with new ideas and perspectives. That's how it came about. To me the new name opens it up for everyone to enjoy.”
A typical issue of Fresh!, periodically inserted into the Daily Eastern News, might have stories on women's issues, different cultures, lifestyles and events or issues pertaining to the campus community. Collins said similar subjects were prevalent in black publications during the last century.
“Black publications historically had sections on society, culture including food, style and pieces on injustices. Those subjects are prevalent and paramount in all publications of African-American descent,” Collins said. “People have to understand that ball caps and baggy pants have nothing to do with the history of black culture. There has been a tradition of representing the best in culture and style for African-Americans.”
Tempestt Washington, a junior minoring in journalism and Fresh! writer, is not one to sit back and watch news happen.
“Here we're reaching out to different students. One of the stories I worked on last year was the first black homecoming queen chosen at Eastern for a long time. Writing that story I learned about the controversy when another black student was denied the title. That is a very interesting story,” Washington said.
Jasmine Randal takes photographs for Fresh! and shows her feistiness sometimes when subjects are not cooperating.
“I always look for something unique in someone when I'm taking a photograph,” Randal said. “I throw things so people just stare at me. I learned that from my photography instructor.”
Timothy Bell, an Eastern junior, realizes it is hard to fit into a mostly white community like Charleston. Working for Fresh! is his way of reaching out and showing he can excel.
Jackson said the challenge is on her and the Fresh! staff to perform. But the college community must be fair, too.
“They have to see us as equals and not judge. At the end of the day we're all on the same level,” Jackson said.
Collins believes Fresh! is making a breakthrough on the reception of the publication even if it can be stinging at times.
“These students take pride in this paper even when they receive complaints. It shows more people are reading their paper,” she said.
Reed said Fresh! is continuing an important element of higher education - learning from people of different backgrounds.
“By adding more students of color to the campus, the white students have learned what it's like being of a different background. That is why Fresh! is important,” Reed said.