A new look and name

A fresh graphic approach for the spring

One of the ongoing themes that has characterized the stories we have written since launching our magazine format is evolution — not just the physical transformation of all UConn campuses, but also the introduction of new programs and activities

As we begin our eighth year of publication, it is our turn to introduce something new, beginning with our name.

Welcome to UCONN magazine.

When we moved from a tabloid to full-color magazine format at the turn of the New Millennium, the name Traditions was reduced in emphasis on the cover of the magazine.

This recognized the fact that our stories, images and information focus on the totality of the University — its past and current activities as well as its future.

Our subsequent readership surveys indicate that you overwhelmingly rely upon the magazine as the primary source of information about new developments at UConn, as well as news about alumni, faculty and research activities.

We also know that in today’s 24/7 world of non-stop information, there is increasing competition for your time and attention with the ongoing demands of family and work.

Yet, recent surveys by the Magazine Publishers of America reveal that from 1997 to 2006 magazine readership has increased by about 7 percent, to more than 184 million, and the average number of magazines read in a month by adults is nearly a dozen per person.

Other industry surveys tell us that alumni magazines are not viewed much differently than other publications when they arrive in the home; that we need to have appealing graphics, crisp writing and a fresh look interesting enough for you to pick up and look for more than just who has retired, been promoted, got married or had a new addition to the family.

Art director John E. Bailey ’84 (SFA) has created a new graphic look for UCONN magazine, one that remains faithful to the original concept he created eight years ago, yet one that provides us with greater flexibility for editorial presentation.

We also have reorganized our stories in the front section of the magazine known as Around UConn.

The section will include not only noteworthy news from our schools and colleges, but a calendar of events taking place across all University campuses and an expanded section devoted to Huskymania that focuses on stories other than those you might find in your local newspaper.

Our expanded Report on Research section will now cover a wider range of studies conducted by our world-class researchers.

The scope of our feature stories in this edition match up with our new look — Ron Meshberg’s story about human rights programs at UConn, David Bauman’s preview of the promise of stem cell research and Jim Smith’s profile of Swin Cash ’02 (CLAS). Let us know how you think we did.

Letters to the editor
must be signed and should be no more than 300 words.

They will be printed as space allows and edited for style, grammar, typographical errors, content and length.

Send letters to:

UConn Magazine
1266 Storrs Road
Unit 4144
Storrs, CT 06269-4144

Email: uconnmagazine@uconn.edu