The Exponent - Purdue's Student Newspaper

Whether you’re an incoming freshman or are returning for another year, welcome to campus. For new students, you may be wondering, “What is The Exponent?” For returning students, a refresher may be in order.

Well, the Exponent is a lot of things.

It is the daily independent student newspaper at Purdue. Being independent means the University has no editorial control over content. Instead, students have total control of the news content, making all decision in regard to stories, graphics, photos, editing and news placement.

It is also a ground breaker. With a circulation of 17,000 papers a day, the Exponent is the largest collegiate daily in the state. It is the first collegiate newspaper in the nation to have built its own building with its own funds and it is one of only a handful in the country to own its own press. Just a few weeks ago the Exponent was ranked the 17th best collegiate newspaper in the country.

It’s a stepping stone. The Exponent has turned out journalists for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and the Seattle Times. Among other Exponent alumni are Pulitzer Prize and Emmy winners, an Indiana Supreme Court justice, a Pixar graphic artist and many more.

But first and foremost, the Exponent is an opportunity. An opportunity for student to get involved in something bigger than themselves. A chance to make a difference not only at Purdue but in the Greater Lafayette community.

The Exponent offers paid employment in both the advertising and newsroom departments.

In the advertising department you can be an advertising representative where you’ll get acquainted with the world of sales and personal interaction like you only can in the field.

In the newsroom you can be a reporter covering breaking news and sitting nose-to-nose with campus authority figures in order to hold them accountable for their actions. Or you can be a photographer capturing the flashbulb moment when new football coach Danny Hope is doused with GatorAde following Purdue’s trouncing of IU this season. Or you can be a video editor, a copy editor or a columnist.

Whatever your interest, this is a chance to gain skills and friendships that will last long past your time at Purdue.

This is a chance to be a part of something special. When former football coach Joe Tiller became the winningest coach in Purdue history, we were there. When a security leak caused the University to mail out more than 1,000 social security numbers to the wrong employees, we were there.

We were there for the bad things too. When a plane crashed at Purdue Airport in 2005, or when the month-long disappearance of a freshman in 2007 became national news, we were there, providing a vital, although difficult, flow of information for the campus community.

We were there and wherever we go next, we hope you will join us.

The Exponent callout will be held Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Electrical Engineering Building Room 129.

Mikel Livingston is a senior in the College of Liberal Arts. He may be reached at editor@purdueexponent.org.