The Round Table is the oldest newspaper in Wisconsin, with its inaugural issue published in 1853. As archivist Fred Burwell ’86 eloquently states, “The Round Table has served the campus with hard-hitting journalism, student news and opinion, and frequent irreverence, while providing us with a historical legacy. From its pages, we learn about how the college navigated the Civil War and Civil Rights, changing trends in education, the arts, and athletics. Covering campus issues keeps students and others informed, sparking conversation and activism. It is one of the few campus organizations that connect students of all generations.”
Indeed, the Round Table is more than a publication—it is a cornerstone of campus culture and a training ground for future journalists. Since the COVID-19 pandemic we have worked to rebuild, focusing first on leadership and internal culture, then on professional appearance, and finally on enhancing the quality of our content. This effort has been fruitful, as demonstrated by glowing testimonials from current students and alumni alike.
However, we now face an existential challenge. Declining enrollment has led to significant budget cuts over the past three years. This semester, we were forced to make a difficult decision: either print one issue per month for the entire year or print eight issues this semester and fundraise to continue next semester. We chose the latter.
Over the past few months, we have engaged with the advancement office, local business leaders, and alumni to secure the funding needed to sustain our operations. While our efforts have yielded some success, we still face a shortfall. Unless we raise $5,000 by the start of next semester, print’s presence on campus will greatly, greatly diminish.
In this issue, we include testimonials from our readers to underscore the importance of print—not just to us, but to the campus community. Thank you—thank you—for reading.
There was something so special about seeing everyone around campus with their own copy and it really united the student body in a way that is hard to do in this age of technology. Finn Waterman, current student.
I really like being able to have a physical copy of the paper. I REALLY value the way Round Table has addressed the Sig situation on campus as well. It makes me feel a bit more safe and seen knowing that there are students and organizations on this campus that truly do care. I would like to see the Round Table continue to publish physical copies because as someone with a disability, it is often so much easier for me to read something physically than electronically. Wren Eliasson, current student.
Having a paper copy of the Round Table freely available was one of the best ways to relax between classes. I have very fond memories of reading the Round Table and it would be very unfortunate if future students could not experience that same joy. (plus when you are done reading it it makes great wrapping paper-reduce/reuse/recycle-very Beloit) Emmalynn May, alumnus.
The physical copies of the Round Table help build a sense of community around campus. Fiona Hughes, current student.
I like print media because it is a different, more worthwhile experience for me to actually be able to hold something tangible as compared to reading an online article. Chris Andaya, current student and writer.
On campus, I love seeing copies of the Round Table around campus, especially in Pearsons, in Commons, and around dorm lounge spaces. It makes it easy to pick up and flip through while on late night snack runs or while hanging out with friends. It becomes a conversation starter, and keeps us laughing. It also keeps us informed about things around campus, and it captures attention from students more than emails sent by the school for various events. Shylee Graff, current student.
It is the most effective way for news on campus to spread and it carries on a lasting tradition since 1853. It would be a disgraceful action if print is omitted from the budget and not accessible for the students and staff. Cooper Rathmann, current student and writer.
I look forward to the Round Table every week! I feel that a print version really does increase student engagement. I love getting my hands on the latest edition, there’s something about flipping through a physical copy that a website can not replicate. I know I, and many others, will be deeply, deeply saddened if the Round Table were to go out of print, especially given its long history of print, and how central to this college the Round Table has always been. Kristen Laiosa, current student
The Round Table has a long history at this college, we have archived issues ranging back decades, silly or serious, it tells future people about how things were. It would be a shame to lose such a resource to budget cuts. Cassie Kowalski, current student.
The reality of print media provides a tangible connection to campus and its happenings. The ability to access student run news without being forced onto your phone or laptop provides a much more social experience and helps strengthen student identity. Nolan Vyhnal, alumnus.
Print media is a dying art. The elderly and the youth alike bond over newspapers. They are the transport of information, conversation starters, and the catalysts of change. Trading them for online news is a desecration of everything journalism has held sacred. Elisa Turner, staff writer.
One of the best parts of Beloit is the people and the community we have built, and I think the Round Table acts as a glue for this. Print media that everyone can see and has direct access to makes the connection on campus so much more real, and an online paper cannot replace this. There is no other thing to replace the Round Table as a place for students to voice their opinions so clearly and publicly. Audrey Langum, current student.
In a time like this, when many of the loudest voices are the ones fueled by mis-information, deceit, and ill intent, it is more important than ever to provide insightful, informative, and accessible media. Print journalism plays an important role in maintaining an informed public and no amount of online presence can duplicate that impact. The Round Table is the oldest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin. That continuity and overall societal contribution should be celebrated, protected, and made a priority in funding-not folded up, tucked away, and brushed aside. Lindsay Silva, alumnus.
Print us the better option as it helps the paper stand out among the mess of stuboard emails and Instagram posts. Ryan Novak, current student.
It makes the Round Table news more accessible to student since they may not be aware of it’s existence and therefore don’t follow them on instagram where they can access articles electronically. Also the foundation of a newspaper is that it’s printed and tangible. If you take away print you take away the essence of what it means to be a newspaper. Gillian Tam, current student.
I simply hate reading things online. I ALWAYS look forward to reading the Round Table, I cut out interesting articles to save, cut out funny pictures of my friends and people I know or I make collages out of the papers! Paige Lancaster, current student.
Print journalism increases awareness of news, especially with the free distribution that the Round Table has. Web-only journalism only reaches those who remember to visit the site. By continuing print distribution, you reduce barriers to access. Vanessa (Mann) Zuroski, alumnus.
We NEED the Round Table! We simply do, and the college should know that. Sam Funk, alumnus.
The Round Table hard copy printed newspapers was a fundamental staple of my time and Beloit College. From 2015 to 2019, their witty titles and effervescent journalistic pursuits provided a place of Solace for all of those on campus. Don’t take away the tactile liberal arts quality of touching and flipping a newspaper in C Haus or Java Joint #2. Don’t take away the soft newspaper ink dusting your fingertips with it’s paperback smile. Keep it. Don’t let our history become a relick of the past. Miyani Clark, alumnus.
Physical text is critically important in the modern age. It’s incredibly too easy for corporations to silence and erase entire documents from the internet and prevent access to documents and texts. Physical print is vital to keeping words alive and documentation unable to be revoked. McKensie Bruss, alumnus.
As an alum that visits campus often, I do seek out a hard copy of the Round Table. It also sparks memories of my time as a Beloit student. Keep up the good writing! Linda Appleby, alumnus.
If the Round Table stops printing, I stop donating. Alec Boyle, alumnus.
There was not an afternoon over my years at Beloit when I did not sit in Pearsons with a secondhand copy of the Round Table in hand. Beloit College has always been a small community, and the Round Table is a rope among a sea of threads that affirms this. Steve Clawson, alumnus.
Having print copies of The Round Table available on campus, particularly in spaces like the newly-opened Impact Beloit, is a great way for visitors and members of the campus community to engage with student work. It is a tangible example of students applying skills they learn in Beloit classes beyond the classroom. It would be a shame for that to go away. I always looked forward to reading physical copy of the Round Table during lunch at DKs (especially to have a break from screens!). Emily Kratz, alumnus.
The long tradition of all of us who worked on the Round Table, the oldest newspaper in Wisconsin, MUST NOT DIE. Print and journalism is more important now than ever. Discontinuing printed Round Tables sends a terrible message to current and future and prospective students. The Round Table is one of the things that sets Beloit apart from being just another vanilla diploma mill. Shutting printing down, especially after some of the important, controversial, well-researched recent articles, will crystalize in the minds of many changing priorities and the College’s drift away from a robust liberal arts education. And, I should not have to remind Beloit of all places, democracy dies in darkness. Steve Kopka, alumnus.
Print journalism keeps a community informed in a way that online journalism does not. It’s more visible, in my opinion, that an email announcement of a new online issue. I will page through a tangible copy more readily that I would an online copy. Lesli Minkler, alumnus.
The Round Table is one of the oldest newspapers and it is fitting that it remains in print to maintain student interest. The Round Table has been a focal point for those interested in and has provided not only the social and cultural setting for those students but also provides the experience they need to enter that profession. Please continue to provide this experience by keeping this newspaper in print. It is a value to the community and the college. Rebecca Steuer DuBey, alumnus.
I think both electronic and print journalism have an important place, and I value the Round Table voice and opinion. As a history major, I worry about the integrity of electronic publications for the historical record. Abigail (DuRussel) Voichick, alumnus.
As censorship cracks down on digital media (especially as we enter the second Trump presidency), print media is more important than ever. Ethan Rosa, alumnus.
Holding a print newspaper in one’s hands delivers the news in a fashion not possible in a digital version. It is tangible. It is tactile. It is real. It is important. Dominick Maino, alumnus.
In our increasingly digital society and economy, print journalism is still has an important role. The tactile experience cannot be fully replaced. Seeing the printed Round Table stack contributes to the rhythm and pulse of the campus week. Ron Vlaskamp, alumnus.
Thank you for reading and supporting the Round Table. We hope to see you again.
The Round Table depends on your support in order to continue printing. If you enjoy any of the work we do, whether it’s reporting on campus events, deep-dive investigations, our weekly Connections or Horoscopes, our radio show, or anything else, please consider giving.
By clicking on the “Donate” button below, you will be taken to a donation page. Please select “Other” for the designation and type “The Round Table” in the specification box, otherwise, we will not receive your donation.
Each issue costs $550, meaning for full print, we need roughly $5000/semester. To give us, and future editors, room to pursue advertisements and other means of self-sufficiency, we are seeking to create an endowment.
Any amount is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support. You are helping the work that has been going on since 1853 continue strong for future students.
Leave a Reply