Arthur (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
Arthur is a Canadian
student newspaper
with a circulation of 3000 in Peterborough, Ontario
. It is the official paper of the Trent University
student body. Arthur is funded through a non-refundable levy from every full-time student at the university. Articles for Arthur are produced by a staff collective
of paid staff and volunteer writers who meet weekly to plan the next issue in Sadleir House, the historic building which houses its office. The collective elects one or more chief editors who serve a term of one academic year in an administrative and editorial role. Jes Sachse and Meaghan Kelly were elected as the 2010-2011 Co-Editors-in-Chief.
and Peterborough
communities, but also features arts, sports, national and world news and regular columnists.
Historically, Arthur has had a left-leaning political stance. In the past articles have focused on issues such corporate boycottism, socialism
, LGBT rights
, Canadian Aboriginal rights
, feminism
, corporate presence on campus, and accountability in university administration.
, now executive producer of the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation
. It was Stephen who gave the newspaper the unusual name Arthur. Many believed incorrectly that he came up with the name because of the legend of King Arthur, and indeed the Trent University
crest has the Excalibur
rising out of the water, as in the King Arthur
legend, so this was quite plausible (though the sword depicted is meant to be Samuel de Champlain
's). In fact, the name arose from Stephen's love for the Beatles: in the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night
, George Harrison
is asked what his hairstyle is called and simply replies "Arthur". Likewise when a friend asked what the student paper would be called, Stephen quipped "Arthur" and the name has carried on to this day.
2008-2009 (Volume 43): Ariel Sharratt and James Burrows
2007-2008 (Volume 42): Teresa Cheng and Kate Taylor
2006-2007 (Volume 41): Julia Caron and Sara Swerdlyk
2005-2006 (Volume 40): Sara Swerdlyk and Andy Fox (Production Manager)
2004-2005 (Volume 39): Penar Musaraj and Nico Sternsdorff
2003-2004 (Volume 38): Isabel MacDonald and Niiti Simmonds
2002-2003 (Volume 37): Dave Tough
2001-2002 (Volume 36): Dave Tough
2000-2001 (Volume 35): Alyssa Evetts and Rose Spencer
1999-2000 (Volume 34): Allen Pinkerton
1998-1999 (Volume 33): Allen Pinkerton
1997-1998 (Volume 32): Kate Archibald-Cross and Sarah Blackstock
1996-1997 (Volume 31): Giles Grierson and Sarah Forbes-Roberts
1995-1996 (Volume 30): Jennifer Metcalfe and Tariq Hassan-Gordon
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
student newspaper
Student newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
with a circulation of 3000 in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
. It is the official paper of the Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
student body. Arthur is funded through a non-refundable levy from every full-time student at the university. Articles for Arthur are produced by a staff collective
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
of paid staff and volunteer writers who meet weekly to plan the next issue in Sadleir House, the historic building which houses its office. The collective elects one or more chief editors who serve a term of one academic year in an administrative and editorial role. Jes Sachse and Meaghan Kelly were elected as the 2010-2011 Co-Editors-in-Chief.
Subject Material
Arthur deals mainly with news related to the TrentTrent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
and Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
communities, but also features arts, sports, national and world news and regular columnists.
Historically, Arthur has had a left-leaning political stance. In the past articles have focused on issues such corporate boycottism, socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, LGBT rights
LGBT social movements
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
, Canadian Aboriginal rights
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
, feminism
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, corporate presence on campus, and accountability in university administration.
Origin of the name
The first editor in chief was Stephen StohnStephen Stohn
John Stephen Stohn is a Canadian-based, American-born entertainment lawyer and television producer. He is the president of Epitome Pictures Inc., and is executive producer of the teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation and Instant Star , and most recently the television movie Degrassi Goes...
, now executive producer of the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
. It was Stephen who gave the newspaper the unusual name Arthur. Many believed incorrectly that he came up with the name because of the legend of King Arthur, and indeed the Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
crest has the Excalibur
Excalibur
Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. Sometimes Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are said to be the same weapon, but in most versions they are considered separate. The sword was...
rising out of the water, as in the King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
legend, so this was quite plausible (though the sword depicted is meant to be Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
's). In fact, the name arose from Stephen's love for the Beatles: in the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night
A Hard Day's Night (film)
A Hard Day's Night is a 1964 British black-and-white comedy film directed by Richard Lester and starring The Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr—during the height of Beatlemania. It was written by Alun Owen and originally released by United Artists...
, George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
is asked what his hairstyle is called and simply replies "Arthur". Likewise when a friend asked what the student paper would be called, Stephen quipped "Arthur" and the name has carried on to this day.
Past Editors
2009-2010 (Volume 44): Kate MacNeil and James Burrows2008-2009 (Volume 43): Ariel Sharratt and James Burrows
2007-2008 (Volume 42): Teresa Cheng and Kate Taylor
2006-2007 (Volume 41): Julia Caron and Sara Swerdlyk
2005-2006 (Volume 40): Sara Swerdlyk and Andy Fox (Production Manager)
2004-2005 (Volume 39): Penar Musaraj and Nico Sternsdorff
2003-2004 (Volume 38): Isabel MacDonald and Niiti Simmonds
2002-2003 (Volume 37): Dave Tough
2001-2002 (Volume 36): Dave Tough
2000-2001 (Volume 35): Alyssa Evetts and Rose Spencer
1999-2000 (Volume 34): Allen Pinkerton
1998-1999 (Volume 33): Allen Pinkerton
1997-1998 (Volume 32): Kate Archibald-Cross and Sarah Blackstock
1996-1997 (Volume 31): Giles Grierson and Sarah Forbes-Roberts
1995-1996 (Volume 30): Jennifer Metcalfe and Tariq Hassan-Gordon