May 20, 2010
The Spectator, which reigned as St. John’s
quirky, sometimes irreverent student-written humor magazine for 25
years, has been reborn this semester as an insightful review of
current social and cultural issues.
Current Issue
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“The Spectator has been re-invented and revamped for a new
generation of St. John’s students,” said Gregory Leporati, an
English graduate student who serves as coeditor with fellow
graduate student Stephen Pinto. “It’s no longer simply a humor
magazine, but features student-written articles on a wide range of
topics, including politics, theology, sports, arts and
entertainment.”
The current issue features interviews with two prominent figures in
the humanities: Steve Mentz, Ph.D., Professor of English at St.
John’s, and renowned Cajun artist George Rodrigue.
“The re-emergence of the Spectator testifies to the creativity and
dedication of our students,” said Stephen Sicari, Ph.D., Professor
and Chairman of English in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences. “This is yet another sign of the vitality of the English
Department, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the
University as a whole.”
Founded in 1979, the Spectator earned a reputation for its
sometimes irreverent, always off-beat humor. In the mid-1990s, a
newspaper called “Da News” — the product of the editors’ collective
imagination — supposedly hijacked an issue. Another time, the
Spectator staged a contest to win a free wedding in the University
Center. The magazine folded in 2004.
We invite you to sample the new Spectator. You may
download the issue here or pick up a hard copy at the Writing
Center or the main office of
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in St. John
Hall.