RRAA History: The Staff-Box Quote

Spring 1992, Grazian Introduces the Weekly Staff-Box Quote

One of the relatively new features of the Rutgers Review is the inclusion of an off-the-cuff quote in the staff-box. Up until 1992, it was something that had been used very rarely--mostly for private jabs at the Daily Targum. When David Grazian became Editor-in-Chief in the spring semester of 1992, he implemented the inclusion of staff-box quotes as a regular event. The idea found quick approval despite some initial protests by more traditionally-minded editors.

These easily-missed quotes usually touched upon some event that has occurred in the little world of the editors and writers. The Rutgers Review tucked them away in the fine print of the paper's disclaimers and statements of ownership, which is located in the so-called staff-box.

The use of a quote somewhere near the end of the staff page is not an uncommon practice in non-daily periodicals (e.g., Q Magazine (UK), MacAddict (USA)). Some editors disapprove of the activity, usually on the grounds that it might take away from the perceived seriousness of the paper. Typically, the only people who are apt to notice a staff-box or staff page quote are going to be other editors and writers (who know where to look), as well as the occasional, thorough reader. This semi-covert nature permits a certain amount of levity that might otherwise be eschewed elsewhere in the periodical. Although it is not inevitable that the subject matter of a staff quote be a private joke, it usually is, simply because the same parties are likely to be the people to look for it.

Sample staff-box quote

This illustration is representative of the spring 1992 layout. Underlined in red are the staff-box quotes. The editorial staff listing would have occupied an equal amount of white space just to the left of this publishing information. Galileo-FLF, usually set at 10 point, was the font used.

"Here we are, rock us like a hurricane" is the true staff-box quote both in terms of its theme and in its placement at the end of the final paragraph of information. This particular one was an inside joke that reflected the gung-ho attitude of the new staff.

The "ross siegt" (i.e., "Ross is victorious") statement is atypical, but it exposes the tough time that the staff box quotes had in gaining acceptance from the entirety of the editorial board. A little before the issue that contained this box was to be packed up for the printers, an editor discovered that someone had replaced the original staff-box with one that did not have any quote whatsoever. The triumphal phrase was added by then Forum Editor Ross F.S. Hall, after he overcame numerous obstacles (such as someone's deletion of Galileo-FLF from the PostScript printer) and banged out a new copy of the publishing information with the official staff quote restored.

A partial list of staff-box quotes

Issue

Staff-Box Quote [and others]

Volume X, Issue XXXII,
October 15, 1991

Matt Tomlinson is a weenie.

Volume X, Issue XXXIII
October 22, 1991

Inside Beat: More ads than a Sunday Supplement!

Volume X, Issue XXXIV
October 29, 1991

Explicit Apologies to the physics department, but at least we're not Inside Beat.

Volume XI, Issue II
February 4, 1992

Any similarities to persons living or dead or The Livingston Medium are purely coincidental.

[Masthead quote: Elvis was a hero to most]

Volume XI, Issue III
February 11, 1992

Oh, well, whatever, nevermind.

[Masthead quote: The ecstasy of desire is not satisfaction but prolongation.]

Volume XI, Issue IV
February 18, 1992

Sit, Ubu, sit. Good dog

Volume XI, Issue V
February 25, 1992

Do you come from a land down under?

[Masthead quote: To be great is to be misunderstood]

Volume XI, Issue VI
March 3, 1992

You'll be sleeping with the monkey-boy tonight.

Volume XI, Issue VII
March 10, 1992

ross siegt.

Here we are, rock us like a hurricane.

Volume XI, Issue VIII
March 31, 1992

Little things affect little minds.

We're better than your mom, and we can prove it.

Volume XI, Issue IX
April 7, 1992

Just one copy per person, please.

Volume XI, Issue X,
April 14, 1992

What does this look like, blue jism?

Volume XI, Issue XII,
April 28, 1992

It's just a fucking newspaper!

Issue	Staff-Box Quote [and others]
Volume X, Issue XXXII, October 15, 1991	Matt Tomlinson is a weenie.
Volume X, Issue XXXIII October 22, 1991	Inside Beat: More ads than a Sunday Supplement!
Volume X, Issue XXXIV October 29, 1991	Explicit Apologies to the physics department, but at least we're not Inside Beat.
Volume XI, Issue II February 4, 1992	Any similarities to persons living or dead or The Livingston Medium are purely coincidental. [Masthead quote: Elvis was a hero to most]
Volume XI, Issue III February 11, 1992	Oh, well, whatever, nevermind. [Masthead quote: The ecstasy of desire is not satisfaction but prolongation.]
Volume XI, Issue IV February 18, 1992	Sit, Ubu, sit. Good dog
Volume XI, Issue V February 25, 1992	Do you come from a land down under? [Masthead quote: To be great is to be misunderstood]
Volume XI, Issue VI March 3, 1992	You'll be sleeping with the monkey-boy tonight.
Volume XI, Issue VII March 10, 1992	ross siegt. Here we are, rock us like a hurricane.
Volume XI, Issue VIII March 31, 1992	Little things affect little minds. We're better than your mom, and we can prove it.
Volume XI, Issue IX April 7, 1992	Just one copy per person, please.
Volume XI, Issue X, April 14, 1992	What does this look like, blue jism?
Volume XI, Issue XII, April 28, 1992	It's just a fucking newspaper!

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