The Exponent gives students information, experience

I've been doing a little personal research over the last year. One night, I noticed that every time I would watch a movie, I saw that there was a newspaper depicted in some shape or form.

This, being that I'm more fascinated with newspapers than boring movies, was intriguing to me. I began to purposefully pay attention to newspapers in movies. I found it amazing how almost 99 percent of movies (those taking place after the conception of the newspaper) I watched, featured a paper in some way.

My wife became annoyed with me soon, as I would proudly point out to her — like I was a genius researcher, although it was just simple observation — every time I saw a newspaper while we were watching a movie by simply saying "see, newspaper." She was able to eventually benefit from this troubled behavior of mine, per justifying it as research; this was the only time she could get me to watch a Lifetime movie (and yes, there was still the, "see, newspaper").

But I'm not ashamed of my obsession of watching 1920's and '30s-based films to see how many times a 10-year-old boy stands on a busy street corner holding the morning edition while shouting, "Extra! Extra!" In fact, I'm quite proud to be a part of an operation in the family of producing the news. I'm honored to be involved with such an organization every time a newspaper's headlines are flashed across the big screen.

The world revolves around the news. The paper is the backbone of American culture. Sure, people accuse ours of being a television, video game and DVD generation, but I think they underestimate how many young people follow the news.

Likewise, I think they underestimate how many young people are more than interested in just picking up the early edition before class. But, interested in being a part of producing something that affects so many peoples' lives each day.

We provide a routine. A large number of people will not leave their houses without checking the weather forecast and the daily horoscope. Many rely on arming themselves with conversational ammunition before they meet co-workers at the water cooler to discuss last night's basketball game (or what the students did after the game).

What's more, The Exponent is part of students' lives every day. Look around the next time you’re in class, and you'll no doubt see several students holding the original laptop — "see, newspaper."

The Exponent offers you a chance to provide this necessity to others. As the largest independent daily college newspaper in the nation, The Exponent offers what Purdue doesn't — journalism experience.

Being a contributing member in this organization, whereby producing 19,000 papers every day (Monday through Friday), offers experience that can't be found at other places while attending college.

This opportunity isn't exclusively for liberal arts students either. Our staff is comprised of students from all majors and career interests. It doesn't matter whether you are an English major or an engineering student — The Exponent can offer skills that will benefit you in any prospective career.

Additionally, being a member of the newsroom (reporters, editors, photographers, copy editors, artists, etc.) isn't the only experience we offer. Including the newsroom, The Exponent is made up of three major departments. We have a very skilled advertising staff that offers real-world advertising experience. The ad staff controls how big each daily newspaper is by how many ads they sell, and believe me, they sell a lot (big papers for the newsroom staff to fill).

We also have a very knowledgeable production staff. This is the smallest group at The Exponent, but it is no less important than the two aforementioned groups. They piece the paper together night after night; ensuring that what the newsroom and ad staffers are visualizing comes together.

What all three groups have in common; however, is that students run them all. This is a student newspaper that is put out by students for students. We take great pride in this fact.

With just less than 200 students on staff each semester, The Exponent is one of the largest student organizations at Purdue.

If you'd like to know how much we are paid to produce these publications, watch for our callout ads in August.

Did I mention we get paid? Well, we do. Here you will receive more information about what we are, what we do and why we love to do it. We really are enthusiastic about what we do and that typically spreads through the organization quickly.

Don't be one of those freshmen that read this paper every day and wonder what it takes to become a member of The Exponent. I talk to several students each year and they always say, "I didn't know it was that easy to become a member of The Exponent" and "I thought it would be harder." Nope. Or, I get, "I wish I would have know about this when I was a freshman." Now you do.

Join the staff and maybe you'll be the next Indiana Supreme Court justice or U.S. Secretary of Agriculture or U.S. ambassador to Mongolia or the first woman to become a vice president at Campbell's Soup or an Emmy Award winner or a Pulitzer Prize finalist or a columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle or a law professor at Indiana University School of Law, well, the list goes on.

Those are just a few samples of Exponent alumni. No, working at The Exponent doesn't guarantee you the success of these former staffers, but it can open many doors for you in the future if you apply yourself. What you do when you get to the door is up to you. But, come through our door at the callout and you'll receive answers.

And the next time you watch a movie, pay attention. You're sure to see a newspaper somewhere.

Keith Thomas is a senior in the School of Liberal Arts. He can be e-mailed at editor@purdueexponet.org.

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