Way-back Wednesday: Call it by a Name

Two unidentified members of the Prospectus press, ca. September 1969

Parkland’s student-run newspaper began publication in December 1968. Without a name, it was known simply as Parkland Press, but a naming contest was held, and by the third issue, it was officially named Prospectus.  From page 6 of the January 24, 1969 issue, here is a little insight into how Prospectus came into being:

The need for an official name for the college newspaper combined with Bob King’s dire need of money produced the name “Prospectus” – a name of Latin origin.

The $10 reward for the capture of an appropriate college newspaper appellation goes, therefore, to our very own photo editor, Bob King.

The name was one of six chosen from a condensed list of numerous suggestions and was finally accepted after careful examination by our most competent team.

Bob King consulted many books, a “Glossary of Literary Terms,” “Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionarey” (sic), “Roget’s Thesaurus,” and a Superman comic book. His decision came from page 685 of Mr. Webster’s monumental work.

“Prospectus is defined as “a preliminary printed statement that describes an enterprise.” Bob thought that this was appropriate because it wasn't just a summary of an enterprise, but a compiling of facts relevant to the students’ environment, “Besides that, it sounds like something Clark Kent would call it,” he said.

The staff sincerely appreciates all suggestions submitted by students, and expresses regret that all could not be financially rewarded. Some of the more humorous or elaborate names suggested were: The Fang, Snake’s Nest, The Parkland Prism, The Post, Paladin, Precusor (sic), Pandemic, Proselyte, Purveyor, Picayune Peal, the Parasite, the Parkland Peeper, the Parkland Gazette, the Snakeskin, the Falling Leaves, the Grass Roots, the Mind Bender, the Mind Release, De Press, Parkland Messenger, the Venom, the Cobra Beat, the Parkland Cryer, the Peeping Parklander.

Get the latest issue of Prospectus News online or in print here on campus. 

If you have a question about Parkland's history that you'd like to see featured, email us at archives@parkland.edu.