Retired Journalism Prof Recalls Early Years

By Jim Drummond
Fall 1965 Titan Times Editor

(Note: This story was published under the headline "News staff remembers past" in the 45th anniversary tabloid edition of the Daily Titan, Nov. 3, 2005.)

The first two professors hired to teach journalism courses during this college’s second year also spent considerable time recruiting students and advising student publications.

That’s the recent remembrance of Jim Alexander, who was the first journalism professor to advise the college’s early newspaper, the weekly Titan Times.

Alexander and J. William Maxwell were hired to teach the first journalism classes in the fall of 1960 at then-named Orange County State College, Alexander recalls.

“Bill Maxwell, who had been a visiting professor at UCLA in 1960, was hired to chair the department,” Alexander noted. “In turn, he hired me from Glendale College in the spring of 1960, where I was teaching journalism.”

“A few weeks later Maxwell won a Fulbright award to teach fall, 1960, in Peru. [First College] President [William] Langsdorf thought it would honor our university to have this recognition, so he asked me to advise the student newspaper for fall 1960,” Alexander said.

Maxwell returned from Peru to advise the spring 1961 newspaper, and he continued as adviser until the spring of 1968. He oversaw the weekly publication until 1965 and the twice-weekly paper through the spring of 1968.

The Titan Times began publication Jan. 4, 1960, when classes were held in the science wing at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton. Adviser was Ernest A. Becker, the college’s longtime Dean of Students. Eight biweekly, two-page issues were published during that first year, under editor Chuck Loyd and a small staff of juniors and seniors.

The newspaper began weekly publication during Alexander’s semester as adviser, when the college moved to temporary buildings on the current campus. The staff consisted of transfers from the newspaper staffs at several of the area’s junior colleges.

“Because we had such a small staff headed by excellent journalism students Don Anderson and Carolyn Bridge recruited from Santa Ana College, I decided that I would pick up proofs and return copy and proofs during each publication week,” Alexander said.

“I wanted the staff to concentrate on their classes, which proved a good idea, [because] some had problems with their upper division classes,” Alexander noted.

Alexander also said that he and Maxwell spent much of their time visiting the local junior colleges to recruit students for their fledgling journalism program, which was adding faculty at the rate of one or two individuals per year. The Journalism Department was renamed the Communications Department in 1965.

“The Anaheim Gazette print shop printed the four-page tab Titan Times. This was the home of the oldest newspaper in Orange County, established in 1870,” according to Alexander. “Just visiting there reminded me of working on a weekly in Sunland-Tujunga, when I was in college.”

The Gazette shop was “quite a contrast [with its] hot metal operation to the current newsroom of the Daily Titan,” on the sixth floor of the College Park building, Alexander said.

The Daily Titan newsroom was named in Alexander’s honor, when it opened for the fall semester of 2000. The dedication took place just before the newspaper’s 40th anniversary banquet.

Alexander also advised several other college publications, including the first summer Titan Times, published in 1965. He advised other summer papers, many issues of the Orange State and Titan Illustrated magazines and several yearbooks. He also ran several summer workshops for high school newspaper and yearbook advisers.

Thirteen individuals served as newspaper advisers for past 45 years:

Ernest Becker Fall 1959 -- Spring 1960 (biweekly Titan Times)
James Alexander Fall 1960 and summers (weekly Titan Times)
J. William Maxwell Spring 1961 – Spring 1965 (weekly Titan Times) and
Fall 1965 – Spring 1968 (twice-weekly Titan Times)
Wayne Overbeck Fall 1968 – Spring 1969 (three-times weekly Titan) and
Fall 1969 – Spring 1973 (Daily Titan)
Carolyn Johnson Summer 1973 (Summer Titan)
Rick Pullen Fall 1973 – Spring 1976, Spring 1978 (Daily Titan)
James Fields Fall 1976 – Fall 1977 (Daily Titan)
John Kaufman Fall 1978 – Spring 1979 (Daily Titan)
Gary Granville Fall 1979 – Spring 1981 (Daily Titan)
Jay Berman Fall 1981 – Fall 1992 (Daily Titan)
Sue Schenkel Fall 1992 – Spring 1993 (Daily Titan)
Jeff Brody Fall 1993 – Spring 2002 (Daily Titan)

Tom Clanin Fall 2002 – present (Daily Titan)

Student Newspaper Editors
at California State University, Fullerton,
1959-2007

Compiled by Jim Drummond
Fall 1965 Titan Times Editor

A listing of the editors of the student newspaper at California State University, Fullerton (formerly Orange County State College, Orange State College and California State College at Fullerton), from 1959 through 2007. The newspaper was named the Titan Times from 1960 to 1968, when it published biweekly (1960), weekly (1960-1965) and twice weekly (1965-1968); the Titan from 1968-1969, when it published three times a week; and the Daily Titan since 1969, when it began publishing four times a week. The chief editors used different titles during their individual tenures, as listed below.

(Note: I also supplied this list to the www.dailytitan.com Web site. Click on Daily Titan History.)

1959-1960--Fall and Spring, Chuck Loyd (managing editor).

1960-1961--Fall, Carolyn Bridge; Spring, Don Andersen (editors).

1961-1962--Fall, Gail McKay; Spring, Clyde Morris (editors).

1962-1963--Fall, Warren Deacon; Spring, Ernest Lopez (editors-in-chief).

1963-1964--Fall, Marjorie Clark (editor); Spring, W. P. Fogard (editor-in-chief).

1964-1965--Fall, Richard Tarquinio; Spring, John Hardy (editors-in-chief).

1965-1966--Fall, Jim Drummond (editor); Spring, Don Lorenzi (editor-in-chief).

1966-1967--Fall, Gary Lycan; Spring, Robert Feldman (editors-in-chief).

1967-1968--Fall, Ann Shiners; Spring, Tim Vollman (editors-in-chief).

1968-1969--Fall and Spring, Paul Attner (editor).

1969-1970--Fall, Bill Schreiber (editor-in-chief); Spring, Sylvia Onalfo (editor).

1970-1971--Fall, Sylvia Onalfo (editor); Spring, Mike Gibb (executive editor).

1971-1972--Fall, Richard Staley; Spring, Ken Trust (executive editors).

1972-1973--Fall, Tom Belton; Spring, Jim Benson (executive editors).

1973-1974--Fall, Ray Estrada; Spring, Susan Sawtelle (executive editors).

1974-1975--Fall, Ed Zintel; Spring, Robert Rohwer (executive editors).

1975-1976--Fall, Sherry Angel; Spring, Geno Effler (executive editors).

1976-1977--Fall, Carolyn Howerton; Spring, Peter Hecht (executive editors).

1977-1978--Fall, Dennis Peck; Spring, Stephen Nill (executive editors).

1978-1979--Fall, Jean Meyer (executive editor); Spring, Rick Ruiz (managing editor).

1979-1980--Fall, Al Benton; Spring, Keith Thursby (executive editors).

1980-1981--Fall, Dawn Bonker; Spring, Sheila Giddings (executive editors).

1981-1982--Fall, Scott Gullett (editor); Spring, Michael Albin (executive editor).

1982-1983--Fall, Michael Mahi; Spring, Stuart Durando (executive editors).

1983-1984--Fall, Ken Daley; Spring, Scott French (executive editors).

1984-1985--Fall, Patrick Dunne (editor); Spring, Marie Montgomery (executive editor).

1985-1986--Fall, Jonathan Volzke; Spring, Dan Trotta (editors).

1986-1987--Fall, Joyce Garcia; Spring, Stuart Dedic (editors).

1987-1988--Fall, Deborah Blankenberg; Spring, Shauna Snow (editors).

1988-1989--Fall, Larry Nista; Spring, Andre Meunier (executive editors).

1989-1990--Fall, Don Whitcomb; Spring, Phil Metzger (executive editors).

1990-1991--Fall, Anne Peterson; Spring, Jennifer Moulton (executive editors).

1991-1992--Fall, Marlene McLean; Spring, Brady McDonald (executive editors).

1992-1993--Fall, Antonio A. Prado; Spring, John Sinclair (executive editors).

1993-1994--Fall, Marie Loggia; Spring, Phillip Brown (executive editors).

1994-1995--Fall, Annette Chavez; Spring, Geoffrey Bilau (executive editors).

1995-1996--Fall, Jennifer Leuer; Spring, Leigh Logan (executive editors).

1996-1997--Fall, Becky Besbris and Adam Eventov; Spring, Christine Castro (executive editors).

1997-1998--Fall, Jack McIntyre; Spring, Nathan Orme (executive editors).

1998-1999--Fall, Denise Carson and Maryanne Wardlow (editors-in-chief); Spring, Kerry Murray (executive editor).

1999-2000--Fall, Chris Whyte; Spring, Joe Florkowski (editors-in-chief).

2000-2001--Fall, Fermin Leal; Spring, Denise Smaldino (editors-in-chief).

2001-2002--Fall, Darlene Barrientos; Spring, Amy Rottier (editors-in-chief).

2002-2003--Fall and Spring, Kimberly Pierceall (editor-in-chief).

2003-2004--Fall, Benjamin Becker; Spring, Melissa Chavez (editors-in-chief).

2004-2005--Fall and Spring, Marti Longworth (executive editor).

2005-2006--Fall and Spring, Nicole M. Smith (executive editor).

2006-2007--Fall, Julie Anne Innes (executive editor).

Summer newspapers were named Summer Titan Times, Summer Titan and The Summer Titan. Even though a newspaper was not published each summer, this list might be incomplete. Send additional information to jimdrummond@hotmail.com.

1965--Jim Drummond and Mike Warnken, co-editors.

1968--Ralph Donald, editor.

1971--Steve McCloud, editor-in-chief.

1972--Janice Rodger, executive editor.

1973--Ray Estrada, executive editor.

1974--Robert Rohwer, executive editor.

1975--Margaret Storll, executive editor.

1976--Stephen Nill, executive editor.

1977--Deborah Mackey, executive editor.

1978--Patricia Kurtz, executive editor.

2004--Matri Longworth, executive editor.

2005--Kim Orr, news editor.

2006--Julie Anne Innes, news editor.

The First Decade

(Note: This story was published under the headline “Student newspaper expands campus coverage” in the 45^th anniversary tabloid section of the Daily Titan, Nov. 3, 2005.)

By Jim Drummond
Fall 1965 Titan Times Editor

Nearly two generations have passed since this newspaper’s pre-Daily Titan era, the period from the first issue on Jan. 4, 1960, through the spring semester of 1969.

In this one decade, the student newspaper grew from a two-page, twice-monthly summary of campus news events to a thriving, thrice-weekly journal of news and commentary with lively exchanges from readers on the Letters to the Editor page.

Pouring through the past issues of the then-named Titan Times is like looking at old black-and-white photographs of long-gone family members. The hot lead-molded, tabloid-sized pages speak, some say, of a more innocent time in American society.

From the very beginning, the newspaper’s growth in size and frequency of publication reflected the growth of the college, an institution grappling each semester with record-breaking enrollments, constant construction and, of course, the usual parking problems.

The newspaper was the Titan Times, the Titan and, finally, the Daily Titan, as the institution morphed through Orange County State College, Orange State College, California State College at Fullerton and, finally, California State University, Fullerton.

Then--as now--the newsroom was an exciting place to work, a home to many students, as they learned the mechanics of day-to-day journalism, formed lasting friendships and, sometimes, married their co-workers, before taking their first steps into the “real world.”

Naturally, early reporters mainly covered college beats--from the first intercollegiate elephant race to the placement of a time capsule behind a granite slab marked “1963” at the front entrance to the Letters and Science building, since renamed McCarthy Hall.

[The former] event, on May 11, 1962, gained nationwide exposure for a fledgling Orange County State, as many print and broadcast media outlets contacted college officials and newspaper editors about a story showcasing old-fashioned, ‘60s-style student antics.

Elephant races were held for a few more years, but the only remnants of those times are a few small pictures on a wall in the student union, stories and photographs on old library microfilm brittle Titan Times morgue copies and, of course, Tuffy Titan, the campus’ elephant mascot.

Reporters and editors also gained experience covering political events, because all sorts of politicos running for federal, state and local offices stopped by the campus to deliver their stump speeches, including two sitting governors, Pat Brown and Ronald Reagan.

The first student protest covered by the newspaper probably was a gathering opposed to the name change from Orange State College to California State College at Fullerton. “A mouthful of words,” complained one student, who was quoted in the Titan Times story.

Other protests quickly followed, of course, many as a result of the Vietnam War. The newspaper was criticized for its coverage of pro-war events, such as a student-faculty march through campus and into downtown Fullerton, supporting “our fighting men.”

Also criticized was coverage of various anti-war speakers, including faculty members. Even a photograph of two students handing out literature from a “No War Toys” table near the quad came under attack because of alleged bias and prejudice in the photo’s cutline.

The growing war, the high draft calls and the increasing casualty count brought many retorts to the Letters to the Editor section. Students and faculty used the paper to vigorously debate the impact of the controversial conflict on our country and the world.

Newspaper editorials also pointed out some inconsistent behavior on the part of campus teachers. Once, a history professor barred a reporter from attending an organizational meeting of the Students for a Democratic Society, even though the meeting had been advertised in a previous edition of the Titan Times as “open to all interested students.”

And the first anti-Vietnam war advertisement, printed in a 1965 edition, was attacked by some members of the Associated Student Body government. They seriously discussed--certainly not for the last time--cutting the newspaper’s meager student-funded budget.

War and politics were not the only matters covered and commented on in the pages of the Titan Times. Free love, inter-racial relationships, open housing, civil rights, gender roles, drug laws, sexual stereotypes, fluoridated water, obscenity, free speech and press and dozens of other issues (some now quaint vestiges of an earlier era) were common topics.

While the exciting political times and the changing social climate were reflected in the newspaper’s pages, ordinary campus events were never ignored during these years due to the “beat system,” which assigned news reporters to specific coverage responsibilities.

Thus, the initial successes of the debate and basketball teams, the birth of sororities and fraternities, upheavals in student government and rowdy nights at the Othrys Hall dorm (now a part of Hope International University) all received acknowledgement in the news columns.

A long list of honors also began during these early years. The fall 1965 issues won the newspaper’s first major statewide award, a second place in general excellence from the California Newspaper Publishers Association in competition with dailies and weeklies.

The fall 1966 issues again won a second place, but in a new weekly category. The three-times weekly 1968-69 issues merited first place, this time in competition with the dailies.

Of course, future editors and reporters would have equally memorable experiences. But the pre-daily era, including the 1960 biweekly, the 1960-1965 weekly, the 1965-1968 twice-weekly and the 1968-69 three-times weekly, always will be highly valued by the hundreds of participating staff members.