ALFRED, NY — The Fiat Lux, Alfred University’s student newspaper, has won its first-ever first-place award in the New York Press Association’s 2003 Better College Newspaper Contest.

The Fiat finished first in Editorial Writing in the annual competition that judges the best among some 5,000 college newspapers. Alfred University competed with similarly sized papers in Division 2.
Staff members celebrated the win at the Fiat’s 13th Annual Appreciation Banquet on campus on April 17.

"I’m really proud of the work you do," said Dr. Robyn Goodman, associate professor of communications and Fiat Lux advisor. "You are writing about very important things that change lives on this campus."

Entries in the Editorial Writing category were judged on subject matter, writing ability, and effectiveness. Each newspaper submitted three editorials that demonstrated its leadership role on local issues.

The Fiat’s entries included editorials on Alfred University’s decision to cancel a concert by controversial rap artist Elephant Man, the firing of Alfred’s police chief, and a Fiat plea for more students to attend addresses and talks by the University president.

Anonymous judges said of the Fiat’s entries: "Well written … Points well made on issues that should be important to the students on your campus … Informative and convincing … Good job."

The Fiat’s previous best finish in the competition was a second place in Column Writing in 2000. It also won a third place in Features in 1999, and third-place awards in the General Excellence and Photography categories in 1997.

The Fiat has also won several national awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in its annual national college newspaper competition. It won a Certificate of Merit for Column Writing in 2001, and a third-place award for Editorial Writing in 1995.

The banquet’s guest speaker, Wellsville Daily Reporter Managing Editor John Anderson, told staff members that they have already done work that rivals that of large dailies. It was the Fiat that many newspapers quoted in stories on hazing and the University’s banning of Greek life, he said.

"You guys get it," said Anderson. "You went beyond the press conference reports and came up with the best stories."