History of SU/GSU joint issue

For the past three years, the number one Historically Black College and University (HBCU) rivalry has been between Southern University and Grambling State University, which comes to a head at the annual State Farm Bayou Classic, where one team leaves the Superdome as either the king of champions or the butt of jokes until they meet again.
Since 2005 each of the school’s student newspapers have collaborated in a special joint issue to showcase a unity between the two, a brainchild of the school’s editor in chiefs and advisor’s.
“At the time, one of my good friends was also the editor in chief of The Gramblinite we thought it would be a good idea to collaborate because of the Bayou Classic rivalry, and thought that a joint issue would be really hot. It’s what the Bayou Classic really means for the fans,” said Gabrielle Maple, the 2004 editor-in-chief of The Southern DIGEST.
“The joint issue is something great for the Bayou Classic,” said Derick Hackett, director of Student Media at Southern University. “We (The Southern DIGEST) did a joint issue with Louisiana State University in the 80s and thought, ‘Why can’t we do it with Grambling?’ The intent was to bring thousands of papers to New Orleans. What better than to see two award winning papers come together?”
De’Eric Henry, who is the current editor-in-chief of The Gramblinite said that the joint issue is a great experience for both staffs.
“The past two years has been overwhelming. It may not be the correct time, it may be stressful, but in the end, it’s worthwhile,” said Henry. “We get such an outpour of student, fan and alumni support.”
The joint issue between the DIGEST and Gramblinite publishes 8,500 copies that are distributed on Southern’s campus, and 5,000 copies issued on Grambling’s campus. This is the third consecutive joint issue.
Terry Jones, immediate past editor in chief of The DIGEST said that the 2006 issue of the joint edition “took it to another level.”
“It’s always a pleasure and a very fun experience as editor of a paper,” he said. “A very friendly rivalry and productive relationship was established when I was managing editor the previous year; and when I took over, we posted it [joint issue] in broadsheet format to put a little of The Gramblinite’s flavor into the paper.” The Southern DIGEST publishes in tabloid style. “We distributed the issue during the game, and it gives Southern students a chance to see Grambling’s work and Grambling students a chance to see Southern’s work.”
Lisa East, the 2007-08 editor-in-chief of The Southern DIGEST has high expectations for this year’s joint issue.
“I enjoyed working with The Gramblinite’s staff, hearing and bouncing ideas off each other,” said East. “What better than to have the number one HBCU rivalry that has the most audience participation work together? I’m glad to be a part of it.”
“I think that, maybe, instead of a masthead, the papers themselves should collaborate and make an issue of a paper by itself. As long as the Bayou Classic is around-which I hope it is-the joint issue should be also,” said Henry.