The Reed College Quest, the Independent Newspaper of Reed College, is now online.
Back in the day (aka Old Reed™), as a fresh faced freshman, I was impressed with eccentricities expressed within its pages, and sometime the writing. When I learned that starting this year the Quest would be available online, I was nostalgically excited. Alas, the best stuff may not end up in the online edition. Nevertheless, stories of potential interest to Portlanders at large have already begun to appear, such as this story on TriMet’s fare increase, or this review of the Ship Ahoy Tavern.
Plus there is plenty of the frivolity one expects from The Official Organ of the Reed College Student Body, such as Excerpts from the Book of Scrounge, and 5 Songs to Bone To. Ah, college.
What would be even more interesting to me is an online archive of the Quest, a la The Oregonian’s. That will probably never happen, but the very first issue of the Quest, from January 16, 1913 is available online (PDF format). Highlights include Athletic Events to Keep Reed Men Occupied, Dr. Sisson Addresses Teachers’ Association, and ads for Meier & Frank’s and J. K. Gill’s. Now that’s some nostalgia.
Allison Jones says
I’d love an archive as well, but I feel like the whole thing is bait for the Oregonian and WW to pick at the community. Before, at least James Pitkin had to put on a silly hat and fake mustache and sneak into the library lobby before he aired Reed’s dirty undies. At least quoting the quest is a bit better than using Facebook updates and livejournal comments as “journalism”.
And, come on, it’s Olde Reed and you know it.
Lucy says
Saw your pingback from ReedQuest.org
I’m fairly certain that an archive is in the works, hosted on sin.
Also, let me know if you have any suggestions for the site!
Dave says
Allison – I’ve got a good chuckle out of the O and WWeek sensationalism when it comes to Reed. Huh, “Olde”- I think that’s a more recent affectation. I was there at the *real* Old Reed 😉
Lucy – Wow, a searchable archive would be fantastic!
John E. Bredehoft says
I just discovered the online version of the Quest. If someone had told me in the early 1980s that the Quest would eventually be available on a computer – a computer thousands of miles away – I would have thought that the person saying this was on drugs.