The Observer, October 19, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 8
A Retrospect of The Observer: Case Tech gone forever
"I'm glad to see the Case Tech increase its circulation, but I hope The Tech remains separate in staff and editorial opinion, and does not become dominated by The Observer. That's what happened last time the papers merged and I hope it doesn't happen this time." -Wayne Babich, 1971.
Please take notice, ladies and gentlemen of Case Western Reserve University, that the newspaper of Case Institute of Technology (The Tech) does not exist in the current campus newspaper. Wayne, looks like your fears were realized – but he should have seen it coming after the comments of Dr. Willian Schneerer, then-chairman of the Student Publications Board. The Tech "was doomed," regardless of whether or not students were still interested in maintaining it. In the Sept. 21 and 24 editions of the 1971 Observer, there were special section inserts covering the Case Tech and its exploration of merging with The Observer. The defining moment came on the cover of The Observer, showing the editorial boards of The Tech and The Observer shaking hands in unity and peace.
So what happened? Why doesn't today's paper even have a legacy "Case Tech" insert?
The financial support for The Tech was still in place, along with dedicated editors – and there was plenty of news to publish.
The oft-cited knowledge that Case and Reserve (among other institutions) merged at some point has low impact on the daily life of the average 21st century new-sunbeam-logo adorned student. Vestiges of the 40-year-old rumblings of federation are about as good as your body's appendix – if it's useful for something, let someone know; otherwise it's just good enough to know of its existence.
Today, The Observer covers all of campus, including the former domain of The Tech, though it often dodges lengthy or specific diatribes about specific schools or departments. For example, when is the last time you read the headline "Nursing Students in Uproar Over Proposed On-Campus Junk Food Ban"?
The point here is two-fold.
First: Does Case Tech or Reserve identity remain among current students? If not, is the student allegiance to the academic department? The Residential College?
Second: In light of formerly-existing The Tech, is the current news system the best way to keep everyone informed? There are still issues specific to Nursing, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. If the current system of disseminating information is inefficient or ineffective, why aren't there weekly inserts for each school?
Ultimately, we can look back and realize how far the federation of the school and the newspaper has come. Remembering and respecting the history of The Observer, The Tech, and the history of all of the other newspapers and institutions that came before is imperative for our University. How can we help catapult our institution to where it needs to go if we don't know where it's been? How contentious would it be to see a new edition of the Case Tech suddenly appear on campus?
