150 volumes of CHIPS newspapers. It is mind-boggling to me that this newspaper has hit such a milestone, and in my senior year, no less! But while we might be in a celebratory mood, it comes to me with the realization that the only rule of the world is change and only change. It makes me wonder about what the next steps for our paper will be and how we move forward.

I had the opportunity to go to St. Olaf for a multifaith workshop on Sunday, March 3. And while it was a great event, I’m not going to tell you about it. Instead, I will tell you about my recognizance: thieving a St. Olaf Messenger newspaper. You’ll say, what’s the big deal? Do you have to compare yourself to others? Well, in this instance, I think Luther could learn something from St. Olaf’s approach to news, even if they were only on Volume 137.

I was, of course, most fascinated by the publication details in one of the margins (mostly alone in this, but nevertheless). There I am greeted by the 34 names of writers, photographers, cartoonists and editors of all kinds. This level of staffing says something about how well they are supported, even if reflecting a larger student body. Indeed, how often do they publish in print? Weekly. How often does CHIPS? A couple times a semester, if we can fit the bill.

At St. Olaf, there is a $75 cost to get the newspaper, but that seems to be a fee for alumni wanting to get the paper mailed to them. This one was just sitting out in a stack, free for the taking. And that’s just it. CHIPS doesn’t have to be supported by the college entirely, but the institution of Luther College should want to support its newspaper.

Is this institution proud of what we do? I certainly don’t know. I know that it’s difficult to get an interview with anyone who isn’t a professor on this campus, and that often the best we can get is an email interview. Where has that hurt us? We’ve tried and failed to get comments from administration on Olson Hall and other important stories that matter to the student body. It is as if the institution would rather put a good spin on it, rather than just tell us what’s really happening.

I’ve said it before, but we pride ourselves on the “unbiased news” shtick, and yes, that means publishing stories that are difficult for the college to hear. Or perhaps that news isn’t something that we want prospective students to see, nor to read in a newspaper. But students and prospective students alike deserve to see the good, the bad and the ugly. A person should be able to walk into the Union and pick up a newspaper and get the run-down on Luther events and happenings. Some won’t be positive, but at the very least they are honest.

That’s what I respect most about St. Olaf’s approach to having venues for the Olaf Messenger to be on campus, and for supporting it enough to be a print weekly organization boasting nearly double our own staff: they must be willing to take criticism, to show a side of themselves that is vulnerable, and perhaps not just sunshine and rainbows.

When CHIPS first began, Luther College wasn’t thrilled and even actively opposed the idea. But then, take a look at some of the leaders of the CHIPS staff of that era: Hovde and Ylvisaker, names that now adorn Luther’s buildings. CHIPS survived, and so did their names. Let me be clear, even a little support goes a long way toward building a relationship that can sustain us, alongside our partner (literally for richer or for poorer) Luther College, for another 150 volumes. With institutional support, we can continue down this rich tradition of publishing student voices and writing things that matter. Who knows, maybe something else will burn down soon and we’ll certainly do our damndest to cover it.