Editor reflects on K-Stater magazine’s impact, history in 75th year of publication
By Tim Schrag '12
I take the K-Stater’s role as a document of record for campus seriously. I firmly believe the magazine plays an important role in documenting campus and the community; revisiting and explaining our traditions and histories; and helping people learn more about the university’s impact on society.
The K-Stater’s archive is often one of the first spots our team looks to when doing research on the university’s history.
Each issue is a timestamp, documenting a moment on campus, and I hope that is reflected in the content.
We’ve contextualized traditions like how the cheerleading team helped make Wabash Cannonball our secondary fight song, what color truly is Royal Purple and the history of our Wildcat logos.
We’ve covered the comings and goings of administrators, notable faculty and staff, and coaches. We’ve celebrated the big wins, conference championships and the fun of being K-State Wildcat fans. We’ve covered Landon Lectures, award winners and notable alumni. We’ve showcased campus life and achievements.
We’ve even covered some quirky moments like when the Hershey Company filled a student’s car with Kit-Kats, explained who Phil the Bobcat is, and we’re actively looking to see if that Braum’s will ever get built. Our readers participate in the process by submitting K-S-U photos, helping us source memories like favorite pizza spots or their favorite K-State tchotchke, and writing letters to the editors.
The reporting we did during the COVID-19 pandemic documents what life on campus was like during those early months of quarantine, social distancing and masking.
Our People of K-State issue celebrated the community. We’ve showcased research, religious beliefs and Greek life.
These are all important things to preserve for future generations of Wildcats. The K-Stater has been doing all of this for 75 years, 11 of which I have had the honor to be at the helm. I look forward to telling more stories in the K-Stater in the years to come.