The Feb. 5 issue of the Courtbouillon marks the revitalization and revamp of Dillard’s student newspaper, including a dedicated budget and staff stipends.
“We’re very pleased to be able to offer a new look, more substantial content and more publication consistency as a result of upgraded administrative support,” said Dr. Cleo Joffrion Allen, assistant professor of mass communication and new adviser to the Courtbouillon.
“As our new provost (Dr. David Taylor) has been known to say, ‘A vision without resources is hallucination.’ We have been now been given the resources to make our vision a reality,” she added.
The student publication will have six issues this semester. In addition to the current issue, the paper will publish on Feb. 19, March 12, and April 2, 16 and 30. Starting in fall, seven issues per semester are planned.
The paid staff for the spring semester includes senior Brittany Odom of New Orleans, editor-in-chief; junior Charley Steward of New Orleans, managing editor; junior Jeannine Cannon of Dallas, sports editor/copy editor; and junior David Pittman of Kenner, photography editor. Senior Jazmine Boutte of New Orleans is advertising manager. All are mass communication majors.
English major Farah Akbar of Atlanta has volunteered to serve as online editor. And students in Allen’s writing classes will serve as reporters along with interested student volunteers.
Prior to approval of an independent budget for the Courtbouillon, the newspaper had a rely on small printing grants through the Student Government Association and the Division of Humanities, with no money for staff stipends nor the ability to roll over revenue. Allen called the prior arrangement a recipe for failure.
She added that the last time in recent memory the newspaper staff had any paid positions was in the 1960s, according to Dr. Gail Duskin, who now teaches English and was a student staff member at the time. And having the ability to roll over revenue will mean an improved ability to make upgrades and attend and compete at conferences, Allen said.
“We are very encouraged by the changes made,” Allen said. “We now have a recipe for success and hope the Courtbouillon not only will serve as an information source and means to generate discussion on a range of issues, but also that it will be a valuable recruiting tool for potential mass communication majors and others at a time when recruiting is so crucial to Dillard.”
The provost said he has great faith in the university publication. In the future, Taylor said, he hopes the Courtbouillon will be able to generate intellectual thought and engaging conversation.
Students interested in volunteering to write may contact Odom or Steward at [email protected] and 817-4107.
(Angelica Boyd contributed to this report.)