California Review
Encyclopedia
The California Review is an Independent Conservative college paper
distributed primarily on the campus of the University of California, San Diego
. The publication is one of a handful of campus newspapers partially funded by the Associated Students of UCSD. The California Review was founded by Eric Clasen Young and Harry Crocker III on January 7, 1982.
where he had encountered The Dartmouth Review, was trying to put together a staff to create a conservative student paper at UCSD called California Review. Quick to join was Elizabeth "E.T." Sullivan, a Guardian staff writer (who transferred to the University of Washington
after the first issue). Eric teamed up with Harry Crocker III to form the brain trust of the new organization. Shortly thereafter Harry's brother, Brandon (C. Brandon Crocker), also offered his services. By early Spring 1982, the California Review had received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS as a non-profit educational organization, and received a seed funding commitment from the Institute for Educational Affairs (now called the Madison Center for Educational Affairs
).
, arrived at UCSD. This famous issue was frequently quoted, and more frequently misquoted, so the California Review overnight became known as racist, sexist, elitist, ageist, and homophobic. The next week, the Music Department evicted the California Review from its office, claiming a sudden need to use the space.
The paper continued to receive support from the IEA and the editors raised much of the paper's budget by delivering speeches to local Republican Women's and Pro America chapters. At its peak in 1985, the California Review had a paid circulation of approximately 400 people in 40 states and on 4 continents. Milton Friedman
, George Will
, Jack Kemp
, Arthur Laffer
, Alexander Haig
, Jack Wheeler, Pete Wilson
, and George Gilder
all agreed to give the California Review exclusive interviews. The paper was modelled in style along the lines of the old The American Spectator, complete with woodcut drawings and etchings, many of which were found by Brandon Crocker searching through copies of the 19th century magazine Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly, which he stumbled across in Central Library. Tom Edwards, who joined the staff in 1983 and served as assistant editor in 1983-84, helped to obtain some of that year’s big interviews (Jack Kemp, Alexander Haig, and then U.S. Senator Pete Wilson) through his political contacts.
The A.S. government continually refused to give the California Review any of the funding it allocated to "Alternative Media." The campus Left even organized a special campus referendum to keep the A.S. from funding the California Review. In addition, the California Review was continually refused office space. After filing a law suit in Federal District Court the California Review was issued a preliminary injunction against the university, and shortly thereafter the university settled out of court and gave the California Review office space. The A.S. later approved $864 in funding.
After the 1984-85 school year, the paper went into a downward phase. The last of the founding members, Brandon Crocker, graduated. Chris Alario, famous for travelling to Nicaragua and visiting a Contra training camp, took over at the start of 1985-86, but left after only a few issues. Leadership at the paper became unstable as editors-in-chief came and went after only short tenures, (no editor-in-chief would serve an entire school year until 1988-89).
undergraduates. The Editor-in-Chief is chosen by the staff in the spring quarter for the following year. The Editor in Chief then designates positions for the California Review and its staff.
Student newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
distributed primarily on the campus of the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
. The publication is one of a handful of campus newspapers partially funded by the Associated Students of UCSD. The California Review was founded by Eric Clasen Young and Harry Crocker III on January 7, 1982.
Founding
Eric Clasen Young, fresh from a semester at Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
where he had encountered The Dartmouth Review, was trying to put together a staff to create a conservative student paper at UCSD called California Review. Quick to join was Elizabeth "E.T." Sullivan, a Guardian staff writer (who transferred to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
after the first issue). Eric teamed up with Harry Crocker III to form the brain trust of the new organization. Shortly thereafter Harry's brother, Brandon (C. Brandon Crocker), also offered his services. By early Spring 1982, the California Review had received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS as a non-profit educational organization, and received a seed funding commitment from the Institute for Educational Affairs (now called the Madison Center for Educational Affairs
Madison Center for Educational Affairs
The Madison Center for Educational Affairs is a non-profit public policy organization that is the result of a 1990 merger between the Institute For Educational Affairs and the Madison Center....
).
1982-1989
On May 24, 1982 (or a few days before) the premier issue of California Review, featuring an exclusive interview with Neil ReaganNeil Reagan
John Neil Reagan was a radio station manager, CBS senior producer and senior vice president of McCann Erickson. He is the older brother of Ronald Reagan....
, arrived at UCSD. This famous issue was frequently quoted, and more frequently misquoted, so the California Review overnight became known as racist, sexist, elitist, ageist, and homophobic. The next week, the Music Department evicted the California Review from its office, claiming a sudden need to use the space.
The paper continued to receive support from the IEA and the editors raised much of the paper's budget by delivering speeches to local Republican Women's and Pro America chapters. At its peak in 1985, the California Review had a paid circulation of approximately 400 people in 40 states and on 4 continents. Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
, George Will
George Will
George Frederick Will is an American newspaper columnist, journalist, and author. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winner best known for his conservative commentary on politics...
, Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
, Arthur Laffer
Arthur Laffer
Arthur Betz Laffer is an American economist who first gained prominence during the Reagan administration as a member of Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board . Laffer is best known for the Laffer curve, an illustration of the theory that there exists some tax rate between 0% and 100% that will...
, Alexander Haig
Alexander Haig
Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
, Jack Wheeler, Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
, and George Gilder
George Gilder
George F. Gilder is an American writer, techno-utopian intellectual, Republican Party activist, and co-founder of the Discovery Institute...
all agreed to give the California Review exclusive interviews. The paper was modelled in style along the lines of the old The American Spectator, complete with woodcut drawings and etchings, many of which were found by Brandon Crocker searching through copies of the 19th century magazine Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly, which he stumbled across in Central Library. Tom Edwards, who joined the staff in 1983 and served as assistant editor in 1983-84, helped to obtain some of that year’s big interviews (Jack Kemp, Alexander Haig, and then U.S. Senator Pete Wilson) through his political contacts.
The A.S. government continually refused to give the California Review any of the funding it allocated to "Alternative Media." The campus Left even organized a special campus referendum to keep the A.S. from funding the California Review. In addition, the California Review was continually refused office space. After filing a law suit in Federal District Court the California Review was issued a preliminary injunction against the university, and shortly thereafter the university settled out of court and gave the California Review office space. The A.S. later approved $864 in funding.
After the 1984-85 school year, the paper went into a downward phase. The last of the founding members, Brandon Crocker, graduated. Chris Alario, famous for travelling to Nicaragua and visiting a Contra training camp, took over at the start of 1985-86, but left after only a few issues. Leadership at the paper became unstable as editors-in-chief came and went after only short tenures, (no editor-in-chief would serve an entire school year until 1988-89).
Editors in Chief
- 2011-Present: Cody Dunn
- 2008-2011: Alec Weisman
- 2007-2008: Patrick Todd
- 2006-2007: Alea Roach
- 2005-2006: Jonathan Israel
- 2002-2004: Ryan Darby, Christopher J. Fennell
- 2001-2002: Terrence P. Morrissey
- 1999-2001: Vince Vasquez
- 1997-1998: Gavin T. Gruenberg
- 1995-1996: Goon Pattanumotana, Kerry C. Liu
- 1994-1995: Michael J. Malervy
- 1993-1994: Ben Boychuk
- 1992-1993: Matthew S. Robinson
- 1989-1992: Brooke Crocker
- 1988-1989: Robert F. Triplett, William D. Eggers
- 1987-1988: P. Joseph Moons, John S. Cleaves
- 1986-1987: C.G. Alario, Barry Demuth
- 1985-1986: C. Brandon Crocker, C.G. Alario
- 1982-1984: E. Clasen Young
Staff Structure
The California Review's editorial staff consists of University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
undergraduates. The Editor-in-Chief is chosen by the staff in the spring quarter for the following year. The Editor in Chief then designates positions for the California Review and its staff.