The strength of a Yalie's pen (or keyboard)

By Grace Suh and Matt Matros

If you haven't got anything nice to say, Yale is the place to say it. From a rumor-mill tabloids to hard-hitting news reporting, a plethora of undergraduate publications let Yalies express their ideas and display their talents. This covers the "nice" too--poetic and artistic students always find a forum for their work.

There are three major organizations at Yale dedicated to journalism and news reporting. The Yale Herald, which celebrated its 11th birthday in 1997, circulates free to dining halls each Friday. Comprised of arts and entertainment, sports and intramurals, news and student opinion, student cartoons and poetry, as well as a weekly calendar of events, the Herald covers anything that affects the Yale community. The Herald also publishes special issues for The Game, Valentine's Day, Commencement, and this issue for incoming freshmen. The Yale Daily News is distributed each morning free of charge. Providing up-to-date news and opinions, it is the nation's oldest college daily. The New Journal, published five times during the semester, is an analytical news magazine that covers cultural and academic issues concerning New Haven and Yale.

If you are more interested in creative writing, you might give a thought to one of Yale's magazines dedicated to literature. The Yale Literary Magazine and Zirkus focus mostly on poetry and artwork, but both accept fiction as well. The Yale Daily News Magazine awards the prestigious Wallace Prize for fiction and non-fiction at the end of the school year. In addition, the YDNM publishes interviews, poetry, and artwork. muse, published by the Herald, blends poetry, fiction, artwork, and criticism. Yale's newest publication for creative writing, Eclectic, prefers less traditional fiction.

Rumpus and The Record are humor magazines. The self-proclaimed "Only magazine at Yale about stuff at Yale," Rumpus is a rumor mill that models itself after a supermarket tabloid. With headlines such as "Fifty Yale Hookers, Maybe More" and "Separated at Birth: The Math Prof and the Psycho," Rumpus has earned a reputation for fabricating the truth and being a bit sensational, all in the name of humor. The Record, which is published less frequently, is a collection of humorous parodies and stories, à la Mad magazine or the Lampoon (a magazine published at some school in Cambridge).

For science-minded folks, there's the Yale Scientific, the only Yale publication which keeps the undergraduate population informed of the goings-on in Group IV. The quarterly journal includes highly technical articles concerning current issues in science, as well as informal interviews with respected members of the science faculty.

The Yale College Course Critique is one of the most sought-after and widely-read publications on campus. By compiling student course evaluations, the Critique provides the "inside scoop" on professors, homework, grading, and the quality of Yale courses, making it a valuable resource during the mayhem of shopping period.

This is only a sampling of the publications at Yale. Experience is not necessary--most organizations always seek new writers, editors, photographers, and artists. Pursue your interests during the Freshman Bazaar, and whether you find a group that suits you or would like to start one of your own, don't be afraid to speak your mind. Just grab a pen or a camera and join the fray.

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