Leicester Student Magazine
| Type | Biweekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Owner(s) | University of Leicester Students' Union |
| Editor | James Gardner |
| Founded | 10 December 1957 |
| Headquarters | The Ripple Office Percy Gee Building University of Leicester University Road LE1 7RH |
| Website | LeicesterStudent.org |
The Ripple is the student newspaper at the University of Leicester. The biweekly free paper editions have a potential readership of nearly 10,000 students, although the actual print circulation is closer to 3,000. The position of editor is currently held by James Gardner.
History
The Ripple's predecessor, the Wave, was founded in the early 1950s by Malcolm Bradbury,[1] who was later to become a renowned author and academic.
The first edition of The Ripple was printed on 10 December 1957 (the same year as the university was granted its Royal Charter) under the direction of the newspaper's first editor, Brian Abbs.[2]
The Ripple in the news
In early 2006 the BBC revealed that the word "moony" was first used in print by the Ripple as part of the slang used during the 1987 RAG week, and led to the Oxford English Dictionary attributing the paper as the source of the word.[3] This was then followed by a feature on the Ripple as part of the BBC show Balderdash and Piffle, screened on Easter Sunday, April 16 2006.[4]
The Ripple received national press attention again in November 2006 after speaking out against an attempt by the National Union Of Students to restrict sales of a number of lad mags in the student union shop.[5]
Expansion and redevelopment
As of academic year 2008/2009, the Ripple will be reinventing it's image, including a total redesign of the logo, colour schemes and layout, as well as expanding sections, following structural and editorial changes under the discretion of the current Editor, James Gardner. The development of a website is being organised over the 2008 summer, and is aimed at reaching circulation issues encountered previously, by providing online services to the Leicester University's large distance learning students.
Notable former editors
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
1981—1982 – Jane Forrest
1982—1983 – Mick McGovern
1983—1984 – Marc Heal
1992—1993 – Chris Ingham
1993—1994 – Andrew Biswell
2000—2001 – Elizabeth Corbin
2001—2002 – Robert Buxton
2003—2004 – Melina Harris
2003—2004 – Becky Danton
2004—2005 – Nick Mashiter
2005—2006 – Aaron Porter
2006—2007 – Tom Goodwyn
2007—2008 – Emily Key
2008—2009 – James Gardner
Current 2008-2009 Editorial Team
| This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
Editor: James Gardner
Deputy Editors: Esther Dudley & Amy Cory
2008-2009 Sections & Editors
Student News: Alex Smith
Current Affairs: Chris Stead
Opinions & Debate: Jamie Griggs
Features: Aaron Maughan
Travel: Emma Howard
Sport: (vacant)
Film: Phillip Dyte & Kiron Ramdewar
Music: Laura Elvin & Rajina Gurung
Fashion & Beauty: Lucy Hutchinson
Food: Jonny Parry
Celebrity Gossip: Jessica Harmsworth & Tash Bedford
Humour: Rebecca Hannigan
Societies & Associations: Emily Miles & Robert Yeates
Editorial Assistant
Bea White
Webmaster
Phil Martin