Vanderbilt Hustler

Vanderbilt Hustler is the official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University, founded in 1888 by Cornelius Vanderbilt III and other students. The newspaper is published in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association. The Hustler has a long history of covering news and events related to Vanderbilt University, including sports, politics, and campus life, often featuring interviews with notable figures such as Al Gore and Condoleezza Rice. The newspaper has also been recognized for its coverage of local and national issues, including the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, with contributions from renowned journalists like Nicholas Kristof and Sarah Kendzior.

● History

The Vanderbilt Hustler was first published in 1888, making it one of the oldest student newspapers in the United States. The newspaper was founded by a group of students, including Cornelius Vanderbilt III, who were determined to create a publication that would serve as a voice for the student body. Over the years, the Hustler has undergone several changes, including a switch from a weekly to a bi-weekly publication schedule, and has been recognized for its coverage of news and events related to Vanderbilt University, including the Vanderbilt Commodores football team and the Nashville Symphony. The newspaper has also featured articles on notable alumni, such as James Patterson and Amy Grant, and has covered significant events like the March on Washington and the Woodstock Music & Art Fair. The Hustler has been a member of the Associated Collegiate Press since 1935, and has won numerous awards for its coverage of news, sports, and features, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Magazine Award.

● Content

The Vanderbilt Hustler publishes a wide range of content, including news, sports, features, and opinion pieces, often featuring contributions from notable writers like David Brooks and Sarah Kendzior. The newspaper covers news and events related to Vanderbilt University, including the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Law School, as well as local and national issues, such as the Presidential election and the Supreme Court of the United States. The Hustler also features a sports section, which covers the Vanderbilt Commodores athletic teams, including football, basketball, and baseball, with analysis from experts like Dick Vitale and Mel Kiper Jr.. The newspaper's opinion section includes editorials, columns, and letters to the editor, often featuring contributions from prominent figures like Noam Chomsky and Cornel West. The Hustler also publishes special editions and supplements, including a freshman orientation issue and a commencement issue, which often include articles on notable commencement speakers like Barack Obama and Malala Yousafzai.

● Staff

The Vanderbilt Hustler is staffed by students from Vanderbilt University, who work as editors, writers, designers, and photographers, often under the guidance of experienced journalists like Sarah Kendzior and Glenn Greenwald. The newspaper has a faculty advisor, who provides guidance and support to the staff, and is a member of the Vanderbilt University School of Journalism. The Hustler's staff includes students from a variety of academic backgrounds, including journalism, communications, and English, who often go on to work for prominent publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Many former staff members have gone on to successful careers in journalism, including Nicholas Kristof, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and Sarah Kendzior, who is a bestselling author and journalist.

● Distribution

The Vanderbilt Hustler is distributed free of charge on the Vanderbilt University campus, as well as in the surrounding Nashville, Tennessee community, often in partnership with local businesses like The Tennessean and Nashville Scene. The newspaper is also available online, and can be accessed through the Hustler's website, which features articles, photos, and videos, often produced in collaboration with other student media outlets like Vanderbilt Television and WRVU. The Hustler has a circulation of over 5,000 copies per issue, and is read by students, faculty, and staff from Vanderbilt University, as well as members of the local community, including residents of Belle Meade and Green Hills.

● Controversies

The Vanderbilt Hustler has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a dispute with the Vanderbilt University administration over funding and editorial control, which often involved negotiations with university officials like Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos and Provost Susan Wente. In 2011, the newspaper was criticized for publishing a cartoon that was deemed offensive by some members of the university community, including the Vanderbilt University Student Government and the Vanderbilt University Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The Hustler has also faced criticism for its coverage of sensitive topics, such as sexual assault and racism, which often involved collaboration with local organizations like the Nashville Area Rape Crisis Center and the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. Despite these controversies, the Hustler remains committed to providing a platform for student voices and perspectives, often in partnership with other student organizations like the Vanderbilt Student Government and the Vanderbilt University Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

● Awards

The Vanderbilt Hustler has won numerous awards for its coverage of news, sports, and features, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Magazine Award. The newspaper has also been recognized by the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association, which have awarded the Hustler with several awards for excellence in student journalism, including the Pacemaker Award and the Gold Circle Award. In 2019, the Hustler was named one of the top 10 student newspapers in the country by the Princeton Review, which often features articles on notable universities like Harvard University and Stanford University. The newspaper's staff has also won individual awards for their work, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence Award and the National Press Photographers Association's Best of Photojournalism Award, often in recognition of their coverage of significant events like the March for Our Lives and the Women's March on Washington.