North Avenue Review Gives Voice to Student Opinions

Though Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and Yik Yak all give students a way to voice their opinions digitally, the North Avenue Review has long existed to serve that very purpose in a print medium.

The student-run magazine recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a new issue and new editor at the helm.

Lucas Christian, a first-year computer science major, took on the role of editor last fall. Shortly after arriving on campus, he found that the North Avenue Review lacked an editor after the most recent one had graduated. With experience working on his high school’s literary magazine, he applied, was elected, and has spent this year breathing new life into the publication. 

“It’s been an adventure,” Christian said. “When I first became editor I just wanted to publish as soon as possible.”

Instead, he spent most of the year building up a nine-person staff, digging into the Review’s archives, and figuring out how the publication could best serve the Tech community. He published his first issue as editor this spring. 

“We want to be Tech’s open-forum, intellectual publication,” he said.

The magazine has long billed itself as Tech’s free speech publication. It began in 1989, partly as a local response to the Tiananmen Square protests in China. Christian’s main goals are that the North Avenue Review gives students a voice — even allowing them to publish anonymously or under pseudonyms — and that it helps them become more aware of the world around them. 

In the latest issue, as part of the 25th anniversary, Christian selected articles from the archives that highlight the magazine’s history and what was on the minds of Tech students in the past. 

“It’s fascinating to find that students years ago were writing and talking about issues that are now hitting the news cycle,” he said.

This issue also features articles that touch on Tech students’ current interests. One article explores how technology enables a new type of criminal and the related role of technological literacy in society.  

Historically, the publication has aimed to publish once a semester. Christian hopes to increase that to twice per semester and to increase distribution to reach more of the campus community. He also hopes for more contributions from more students, including graduate students, and even employees. The North Avenue Review's staff provides basic editing for typos, but it is also willing to provide suggestions and work with contributors to whatever extent they choose.

Christian believes that being a print publication lets students find the magazine and gives staying power to the messages it contains. 

“There’s something about it going in print and sitting on campus — it doesn’t just go away,” he said.

For those interested in submitting to future issues, submissions are accepted on a rolling basis at www.northavereview.com. Students can get involved with the staff or learn more by joining the mailing list.

“The coolest thing right now is that we’re rapidly evolving,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity to do what you want."

Copies of the current issue can be found at the first and second floor entrances of the Clough Commons, the Library main entrance, the Student Center information desk, and the cubbies across from the Post Office in the Student Center Commons.