Campus Judean Begun By Harvard Seniors

Two Harvard seniors have founded an intercollegiate Boston area newspaper devoted to Jewish concerns, and the first issue will appear today.

Founded by Ian M. Rose '88 and David J. Cowan '88, The Campus Judean is a sixteen-page tabloid which will be distributed free at Boston area colleges. It will come out monthly beginning in February, Rose said.

The Judean staff of about thirty contributors includes students from Harvard, Brandeis, Boston University, Tufts, and Wellesley, Cowan said.

The paper is an independent, non-profit organization not affiliated with Harvard, the founders said. The Hillel Council of Greater Boston provided the paper with a start-up grants but the paper's operating budget will come from advertising revenue, Rose and Cowan said.

The Campus Judean will address campus issues concerning Jewish life and political issues and contains art reviews, Israeli news, and a calendar of social events, the editors said.

The first issue contains articles about everything from Presidential candidates' opinions on Jewish matters to Jewish concerns at Brandeis to Syria's desire to have military parity with Israel.

Although the editors characterize their views as pro-Israel, they said they will try to keep news articles unbiased and will print editorials presenting opposing viewpoints. The first issue includes an editorial by the secretary of the Harvard/Radcliffe Society of Arab Students.

The paper's goal is to make Jewish students aware of their background and culture without becoming separated from the rest of American culture, Schwartz said.

Rose and Cowan said they feel the new paper fills a necessary role in the Boston Jewish community. They said they envision The Campus Judean as a forum for active discussion about all sorts of issues affecting the Jewish community today.

"There is a gap in the Jewish community that could be filled by an intercollegiate newspaper," Rose said. No similar publication currently exists in Boston, Cowan said.

Gregory R. Schwartz '89, a contributor and associate editor said that he and the other editors were "particularly interested in doing an intercampus project because there are so many schools in this area but there is not much contact between campuses."

Mark N. Diker '88, another contributor and financial assistant, said he got involved with the Judean because he considers it a very worthwhile publication and he agrees that an intercampus Jewish newspaper is something that has been missing from the New England area.

According to Cowan, "the response has been enthusiastic in both recruiting and advertising." He said he thinks students are eager to work on a paper that will reach students on other campuses.

Rose and Cowan said they hope to expand the paper's base in Boston and get contributions from students at more area colleges. "We want to get as many people from the Jewish community involved as possible," Rose said.