2002-01-17

              Volume CXV, No. 1

Official Paper Since 1887

ST.    JOHN'S    UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE    OF    ST.    BENEDICT

irst copy Tree

Schools celebrate MLK holiday

Events to reflect 'dream'

Carissa Renken

Editorial Staff

The spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "dream" will be felt across the St. John's and St. Ben's communities next week. Beginning on Sunday, Jan. 20, in celebration of Dr. King, a range of events is planned for student, staff and faculty participation.

In its inaugural year, Martin Luther King, Jr. week hopes ". . .to provide a variety of opportunities for our campuses to acknowledge, learn and celebrate the ideals that Dr. Martin Luther King [Jr.] lived (and died) for," Mary

Gellar, CSB Dean of Students, stated via email.

Students, staff and faculty alike will have the opportunity to take part in panel discussions, interactive roundtables, an open mic and a Diversity Dance to reflect on the importance of King's nonviolence. In addition, residence halls and apartments will be sites for students to watch videos and conduct open dialogue about their thoughts on pacifism.

^ See Events Pg. 2

Students comment about week of planned events on campus.

SJU alum joined MLK in '63

Carissa Renken

Editorial Staff

Monday, January 21—For many students the date may have no significance, a dreaded Monday, just like any other. The day marks the celebration of a revolutionary force in the Civil Rights movement: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The communities of St. John's and St. Ben's will distinguish this day as the beginning of a week-long celebration commemorating King's efforts. Nearly forty years after his death, the impact of his "dream" still resonates.

For one former St. John's alum, the dream became reality. Matthew Ahmann was one of the many speakers to speak along with Dr. King at the landmark March on Washington in 1963. As the active Catholic co-chairman of the event, Ahmann emphasized the need to "fight for the rights of Negroes and other minorities."

In addition, Ahmann played a role in organizing the earliest significant alliance for civil

? See SJU alum Pg. 2

Ahmann's life followed the spirit of Dr. King's teachings.

The Record: 115th

The St. John s University Record

anniversary

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Beginning its 115th year, The Record published its first monthly issue in January of 1888.

The Quad (right) as it stood in 1888, appearing numerous times in the first volume of the newspaper. The editors of The Record traditionally maintain that it's the finest newspaper in five states and two provinces.

ST. JOHN'S VNlvm&$lTV%

UT, REV. ADDOT ALEXIUS EOELBBOCK, 0, S.

Bridget Kelly

Editorial Staff

The RECORD makes no apology for its existence. It may, and may not, fill a long-felt want. We feel as though it ought to receive a cordial welcome from our friends. If it does, it has a raison d'etre. If it does not, it will go to the wall after the first year of existence.

At all events, it will stand or fall on its own merits.

On Jan. 27, 1888, a group of St. John's students printed these words on the front page of the first issue of the St. John's University monthly newspaper, The Record. Though the initial fate of the paper may have been uncertain, this year The Record celebrates 115 years of publication, making it one of the oldest college newspapers in Minnesota.

Now belonging equally to St. Ben's and St. John's, The Record has seen drastic changes in appearance and content in its long hisotry. But from its inception, The Record has maintained its status as a recorder of events and a medium of communication between the two colleges and students, alumni, staff and friends of the schools.

Thus, in coming issues we are going to take you on a retrospective trip, looking at some of the most pivotal events in both national and school history and how The Record conveyed them to its audience.

The First Issues

In the premier issue, the editorial staff-members of the Alexian Literary Society at St. John's-explained the purpose of The Record and the meaning of its name:

"This journal, true to its name, wall collect facts of the early history of St. John's, and faithfully record whatever of general interest relates to it, and to those who are in any way connected with it, as well as the important events of the age in which we live...St. John's University is a factory in the history already made, and still making, in our State and in the Northwest. A zealous gathering therefore of past, and faithful recorder of the present events, is worthy of encouragement and support. The RECORD will endeavor, with the generous assistance of its friends, to be what its name implies."

While the newspaper endeavored to record the news of the campus, the content of the 188S Record was strikingly different from what is run in today's paper. Many lengthy articles appeared in the first year, dealing with matters of intellect such as the question of Shakespeare's religion, the greatness of Pope Leo XIII and the validity of pugilism.

One article promoted the educational value of what was then known as St. Benedict's Academy.

"Nothing is wanting to make the Academy a pleasant Christian home for young ladies," the article continues. "The RECORD most cordially recommends St. Benedict's Academy to parents who desire to give their daughters a good education."

An ad in the same issue described the courses of study available to the young women attending the Academy. They included English, German, needlework and vocal music for a fee of $75 for five months. For an additional fee, the girls could study instrumental music, painting, drawing, typewriting, Latin, French and Polish .

Though the articles in the first years of The Record are dramatically different from the modern-day version, the events recorded in its pages are significant nonetheless. They allow us to understand the values, beliefs and concerns of students who studied in these same buildings over 100 years ago.

Stay tuned for upcoming articles focusing on The Records 115 year history.

"Smokey,  this  is  not  Nam.  This  is  bowling.  There  are   rules."

St. John's restores Great Hall Christ mural  Barlau and Nester net 1,000 points     Know some News? Tell us

Crews have been retouching the historic mural of Christ located in the Great Hall at St. John's,

PAGE 3 Variety

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Send a News Tip to record@csbsju.edu or call 320-363-2540, E-mail is preferred, type 'News Tip' in the subject line. Please include any relevant contact PAGE 8 SPORTS    information with the tip.