The Good 5 Cent Cigar

"The Good Five-Cent Cigar" is a daily, student-run newspaper for the University of Rhode Island campus. The paper provides the university community with information regarding on-campus issues and events, as well as providing world news. The paper also has editorial, sports and entertainment sections. The "Cigar" is published Tuesday through Friday while classes are in session and has an office in Room 125 of the URI Memorial Union. The paper has a circulation of 5,000 and is printed by Ocean State Offset of Warwick, Rhode Island. [ [http://www.ramcigar.com/aboutus/ The Good 5 Cent Cigar ] ]

History

The "Cigar" became the official student newspaper of the university in 1971 after the Student Senate shut down its predecessor, the "Beacon". The senate shuttered the "Beacon" after the editor-in-chief printed a blank issue with the words “This is all you deserve.”

The editor-in-chief’s comments were in response to what he perceived as widespread student apathy at the time. The senate was not amused and fired the editor. Most of the "Beacon" staff moved to the "Cigar", which had previously been an underground, anti-war paper perceived by some as liberal-leaning. [URI Yearbook, 1971]

Over the next three decades the paper adapted technology, moving from a system of typewrites and flats to electronic layout and delivery. Today, the paper employs about 35 reporters, editors and business staff in addition to a full-time professional compositor. It remains the only regularly published paper on campus.

Name

The "Cigar’s" name comes from a quote by former U.S. Vice President Thomas R. Marshall who is said to have remarked to a U.S. Senate clerk, “What this country needs is a good five-cent cigar.” At the time, he was speaking about economic woes. [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_R._Marshall]

It is believed the paper adapted the name after editors felt that “all this campus needs is a good five-cent cigar.” The paper still carries the full quote under its flag, but does not attribute it.

Editorial Control

The "Cigar" is overseen by the Cigar Board but editorial decisions are left mostly in the hands of the editor-in-chief in consultation with the two managing editors. Because the "Cigar" is a Student Senate recognized organization, [http://uristudentsenate.com] it is completely separate from the university administration. As such, the paper is free to criticize and question administrators without fear of retribution.

However, the paper’s position as a senate-recognized group has often brought up contention when the paper seeks to cover stories perceived as negative to the senate by student senators.

Contact Information

Mailing Address

50 Lower College Road

Memorial Union, Room 125

Kingston, RI 02881

Newsroom & Sports

401-874-5853

[e-mail]

Entertainment

401-874-5853

[e-mail]

Business/Advertising

401-874-2914

[e-mail]

Past Editors-in-Chief

References

External links

* [http://www.ramcigar.com/ The Good Five-Cent Cigar]
* [http://www.uri.edu/ University of Rhode Island]