The college’s newspaper was destined for greatness when an instructor of journalism and publications was appointed as its faculty advisor. Her name was Marjorie Burke. She intentionally and naturally set a high standard of providing support and encouragement for its staff of editors and reporters. The only thing she expected in return was a superior level of professionalism. An expectation that remains today.

Throughout the past 60 years, the Times has been used as a public laboratory for students to experience the real-life process of working in media. When the college removed its journalism program, working for the Times became a once in a lifetime experience for students to regularly showcase their talents in writing, photography, business management, and illustration. This exposure for students has given many staffers the opportunity to intern at numerous publications locally, including The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Milwaukee Maga-zine, just to name a few.

Students’ persistence in creating a high-quality product was aid-ed when the paper became a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The organization offered harsh criticism of every aspect of the publication. These constructive reviews enabled students to develop and improve even further.

In October of 1976, the Ameri-can Newspaper Publishers Association selected the Times as its National Pacemaker winner. Un-der the student leadership of co-editors John Zutz and Glenn Ske-nadoreIt, it was the first time the paper won this prestigious award for being the top college newspaper in the country. The Times went on to win twelve more Pacemaker awards under Burke protégé and former Times editor-in-chief and history-making faculty advisor Tom Gould. In 1989 is was selected for the Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Former Journal Sentinel editorial page editor, and recently hired advisor, O. Ricardo Pimentel, is well-positioned to take on the challenge of living up to the paper’s regaled history.
“It’s an honor in a number of ways, key among them: I get to help students produce a newspaper that keeps the college community abreast of things it ought to know; I help students hone their craft, one that will be useful whatever profession they pursue; meet great people on the staff and off, and I have the pleasure f helping people understand the value of journalism in a democratic society. It has been a rich – and humbling – experience,” said Pimentel.

Gould summed it up best when speaking about the student-powered publication: “Over the years I am continually amazed at what can be accomplished by 20 or 30 student volunteers working together on our bi-weekly project. Their dedication represents what’s best about MATC.”