The Bell Ringer celebrates 50 years

Back when Augusta State University was known as the Junior College of Augusta, a few students got together and decided the school needed its own student publication. From those first discussions in 1957, The Bell Ringer was born. Now in its 50th year, ASU’s student newspaper is celebrating its golden anniversary with a series of events on March 20.

“Despite our claim to have our roots in the late 1700s, and despite our historic campus, students tend not to have much sense of history here,” says Communications and Professional Writing Chair James Garvey. “We don’t have many traditions; we don’t have stories of famous graduates from the past and the trees they carved their names into. But we do have history, and this Bell Ringer reunion will give us a sense of that.”

“The significance of this is rather mind-boggling, I think,” says Matthew Bosisio, assistant professor of communications and current Bell Ringer faculty advisor. “Anytime a publication or an organization turns 50, you can look back along a string of continuous motion where one person handed off to another, who handed off to another, and from that motion arose powerful, interesting history. So it is with The Bell Ringer. These former editors formed the newspaper and laid its foundation. And it is that foundation, that common link, upon which today’s editors and reporters labor in learning their craft as journalists.”

The celebration begins at 9 a.m., when former editors and staffers are invited to gather in the Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom for a welcome, breakfast, and a chance to catch up with old friends. At 9:30 a.m., a panel of former editors will discuss life after their student newspaper experience and the state of the media today.

“Each of these editors came from a distinct moment in the institution’s past, has memories of crises, classes, landmarks, professors, campus, and city issues that were central to their Bell Ringer. And some of them have been away for a long time,” Dr. Garvey says. “It will be interesting to see what they make of what we’ve become and what The Bell Ringer has become. That kind of perspective is one of the things that history provides.”

After the panel, the group will join Sandhills Writer’s Conference participants for the keynote address from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg. Afterward, they will enjoy lunch on the grounds and a tour of the campus.

“I am really excited about the event. I still regard my time at The Bell Ringer as one of my favorite experiences,” says Jason B. Smith, publisher of The McDuffie Mirror and former Bell Ringer editor from 1993 to 1996. “That newspaper laid the groundwork for my career, and the lessons I learned in that office still hold true today. It was a wonderful opportunity for me, and I look forward to getting reacquainted with some of the folks I’ve lost contact with over the years.”

Any former Bell Ringer editors or staff members who are interested in attending should call ASU’s Office of Public Relations and Publications at 706-737-1444.

Schedule of events

9 a.m. – Welcome, Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom
9:30 a.m. – Panel discussion
11 a.m. – Keynote address from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg, 101 Galloway Hall
Noon – Lunch on the grounds
1 p.m. – Campus tour

Panel Participants

• Jack Padgett, Jr. (editor, 1959) – Retired as a sales and marketing senior account executive for Lever Brothers Co. and served on the Richmond County Board of Education and the Richmond County Commission
• William Harper (editor, 1968-69) – Pastoral assistant at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, and former graphic designer at The North Augusta Star
• Elizabeth Adams (features editor, 1986-87) – Managing editor of The Augusta Chronicle.
• Jason B. Smith (editor, 1993-96) – Publisher of The McDuffie Mirror
• Stacey Hudson (editor, 2000) – Arts editor of The Metro Spirit
• Panel Moderator Rick Davis (editor, 1965-66) – Associate professor of communications, Augusta State University

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March 2008
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