The Cadet (newspaper) facts for kids
The front page of The Cadet for
Friday, 17 February 1967. |
|
| Type | Bi-weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet, Online Publication |
| Owner(s) | The Cadet Foundation, Inc. |
| Publisher | The Cadet Foundation, Inc., The Lexington News-Gazette |
| Founded | VMI Cadet Magazine 1871-1891 The Keydet 1907-1934 The VMI Cadet 1934-1994 The Cadet 1994-2016, 2021-Present |
| Headquarters | Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia |
| Circulation | > 1,500 |
The Cadet (also known as The Keydet from 1907-1934 and The VMI Cadet from 1934-1994) is a student newspaper. It is published every two weeks by students at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).
In May 2021, VMI students brought The Cadet back to life. They wanted a newspaper for their graduation. Since then, current VMI students have run the newspaper. It gets money from donations.
In October 2021, The Cadet became an IRS 501(c)(3). This means it's a non-profit group. This step helps the newspaper staff stay independent from VMI's main office. It gives them full control over what they publish. The Cadet also joined the Virginia Press Association (VPA) in October 2021. The students who work on the paper even have special press IDs from the Virginia State Police. The Cadet is owned by The Cadet Foundation, INC. It gets help with publishing from the Lexington News-Gazette.
Contents
The History of The Cadet Newspaper
The Cadet newspaper has a long history. It started as a monthly magazine in 1871. It was published until 1873. Then it stopped for a while. It came back briefly from 1890 to 1891.
From Magazine to Newspaper
From its very first issue in March 1871, The Cadet focused on student life. The early editors wrote that "cadet-life is student-life." But they also said their experiences were special. The Cadet helps record the unique experiences of VMI students and former students. In 1907, The Cadet changed from a magazine to a newspaper.
A Voice for Students
From the beginning, The Cadet encouraged open discussions. It even sparked debate about its own name. For a few issues in October 1907, it was called The Keydet. VMI officially accepts "Keydet" as another word for "Cadet." So, The Cadet and The Keydet are the same newspaper.
The Cadet has always been run by VMI students. The current version started in May 2021. It publishes new issues every two weeks during the school year. The magazine used to cost $1.50 a year. The newspaper stopped publishing for three years during World War II. It also stopped between 2016 and 2021.
Keeping History Alive
There was a project to put every issue of The Cadet online. This project started with issues from 1907. It was finished in 2011. Now, the VMI Archives has digital copies of every issue since 1907. The Archives also has details about old letters, diaries, and records. New issues of The Cadet are given to the VMI Archives. This way, they can be saved for the future.
Why The Cadet is Independent
The Cadet stopped publishing in 2016. This happened because students lost interest. VMI's administration became more involved in editing the paper. At that time, The Cadet was one of the oldest independent college newspapers in Virginia and the United States.
Student Control and Free Speech
Even with different names, all versions of The Cadet followed one main rule. They were independent of the Virginia Military Institute. This idea comes from the First Amendment. This amendment protects free speech. The original newspaper was run entirely by students. They had full control over what was published.
Former VMI students can help as mentors. They guide the writers and editors. This helps students learn more about journalism. Currently, The Cadet has two alumni mentors. They help with money, connections, and editing software.
A Place for Discussion
The Cadet is a public forum for student editors. Students, teachers, staff, and alumni mentors can all contribute. The goal is to inform and educate readers. It also aims to discuss topics important to its audience. This matches the vision of its creators. The March 1871 issue of The Cadet said it should reflect the students who support it. An 1892 issue reinforced this idea. It stated that students and alumni should support a magazine made for them.
What You Can Read in The Cadet
The Cadet has several regular sections. These include:
- News
- Opinion
- Features & Special Reports
- Sports
- Humor & Satire
- VMI History (also called the "Old Corps")
- Alumni News
Topics and Sports Coverage
Editorials often talk about U.S. and Virginia politics. They also cover issues important to VMI students. The sports section always covers VMI club, intramural, and NCAA sports. Sometimes, it also covers professional sports, Southern Conference Athletics, and local sports in Rockbridge County.
Special Editions and Humor
Special editions of The Cadet often have an Event Page. This page covers yearly and special events at VMI. These include Ring Figure, Matriculation Day, and Graduation. The Humor & Satire section is on the back of the last page. Only VMI students create the content for this section.
Images for kids
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The Cadet Newspaper's current logo
