Imprimus
Nearly two thirds of Hillsdale applicants mention Imprimis; $314,000 a month; editors aim at 2.5 million subscriptions
Daniel J. Williams
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
They're scattered around campus, and mailed around the country. The clean lines and simple layout aren't out to impress anyone.
Yet Imprimis, the monthly speech digest of Hillsdale College, has earned itself a name.
It also suffers from a lack of dirty fingernails, or so says Dennis Mansfield, a blogger from Boise, Idaho. Yet he posted January's issue featuring Mark Steyn on DennisMansfield.com, surprised Imprimis had printed something lively for once.
"The article was so radical, and the content was so wonderful, that it shook me out of my ambulatory sleep patterns," said Mansfield, a self-described 'faith-based conservative' generally disenchanted with the publication.
"When I read Imprimis, it's like gong to the doctor's office for a vaccination. It works, it's painful, and I don't want to make a habit of it."
The name Imprimis is derived from Latin meaning "in the first place," and reaching 1.6 million subscribers, the Hillsdale College publication arouses interest across the ideological spectrum.
And, 35 years after its inception, the speech digest appears to be fulfilling its intended purpose: drawing attention to Hillsdale College. Former college President George Roche sent out the first Imprimis in 1972 to 1,000 friends of the college. Since then, subscriptions have steadily risen. Doug Jeffrey, vice president for external affairs and Imprimis editor-in-chief, said the college intends to increase subscriptions at an even higher rate.
"We have a goal of 2.5 million within about three years," Jeffrey said. "We have a plan to do that, so we'll see how it goes."
"We wouldn't have heard of Hillsdale otherwise," said Laura Faley, mother of junior Ian Faley, who was reading Imprimis as a high schooler before he came to Hillsdale.
Fred Schebor, associate director of admissions, estimates nearly two thirds of admissions applicants mention Imprimis in their applications or admissions interviews.
"It's not a direct relationship," said Schebor, who has his staff display Imprimis on Hillsdale's table at all college fairs. "It's more of an indirect but overwhelmingly indirect relationship."
Yet Imprimis, the monthly speech digest of Hillsdale College, has earned itself a name.
It also suffers from a lack of dirty fingernails, or so says Dennis Mansfield, a blogger from Boise, Idaho. Yet he posted January's issue featuring Mark Steyn on DennisMansfield.com, surprised Imprimis had printed something lively for once.
"The article was so radical, and the content was so wonderful, that it shook me out of my ambulatory sleep patterns," said Mansfield, a self-described 'faith-based conservative' generally disenchanted with the publication.
"When I read Imprimis, it's like gong to the doctor's office for a vaccination. It works, it's painful, and I don't want to make a habit of it."
The name Imprimis is derived from Latin meaning "in the first place," and reaching 1.6 million subscribers, the Hillsdale College publication arouses interest across the ideological spectrum.
And, 35 years after its inception, the speech digest appears to be fulfilling its intended purpose: drawing attention to Hillsdale College. Former college President George Roche sent out the first Imprimis in 1972 to 1,000 friends of the college. Since then, subscriptions have steadily risen. Doug Jeffrey, vice president for external affairs and Imprimis editor-in-chief, said the college intends to increase subscriptions at an even higher rate.
"We have a goal of 2.5 million within about three years," Jeffrey said. "We have a plan to do that, so we'll see how it goes."
"We wouldn't have heard of Hillsdale otherwise," said Laura Faley, mother of junior Ian Faley, who was reading Imprimis as a high schooler before he came to Hillsdale.
Fred Schebor, associate director of admissions, estimates nearly two thirds of admissions applicants mention Imprimis in their applications or admissions interviews.
"It's not a direct relationship," said Schebor, who has his staff display Imprimis on Hillsdale's table at all college fairs. "It's more of an indirect but overwhelmingly indirect relationship."
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Dennis mansfield
posted 4/14/08 @ 12:16 PM EST
Good job, Daniel, on your article. I hope the college newspaper realizes the level of talent that you have!
Dennis Mansfield
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