The Tiger Town Observer

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The Tiger Town Observer is Clemson University's conservative newspaper. It is not directly funded by Clemson University, however the University does provide office space for the organization in the Hendrix Center. One of the most popular issues of the year is the annual Faculty Salary issue, in which the Observer publishes the salaries of all faculty members who make above $50,000 per year. The Observer is one of Clemson University's three student newspapers, with the others being the University-recognized, nonpartisan Tiger, and the other being the progressive Clemson Forum.

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History

In 1992, The Clemson Spectator was born out of a lack of an outlet for students of Clemson to express opinions regarding Clemson life and the world around us. Prior to The Observer's founding, conservative students at Clemson were reportedly denied advertising space in other publications. In this climate, several opinionated students started the newspaper.

Over 13 years, and a name change later, The Tiger Town Observer purports to serve that same core purpose: “To promote the ideals of great minds." Throughout the years, The Tiger Town Observer claims to serve as the avenue for students of Clemson to question the policies of the administration, to advocate strong opinions unlike anything else published by Clemson students, and to serve as the outlet for conservative students to make an impact on Clemson’s campus.

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Controversy

The Tiger Town Observer has been mired in controversy from its creation, when it reportedly paid two men in a grocery store to fight over a loaf of bread. In 1998, it nearly had its University recognition revoked after libeling then-media advisor Jennifer Lestor. Its editor at the time, Brad Johnson, stepped down after the controversy for not being a Clemson student, a requirement in being the leader of a University recognized group.

In early 2005, the Observer printed a fraudulent/controversial interview between editor Andrew Davis, under an assumed alias, and a staffer. Davis went under Judicial Services investigation from complaints tied to an anti-war protest which was frowned upon by practically all voices in the community, faculty and student body, including the Campus Republicans. In an investigation that was concluded in May 2005, complaints of fraud and student disorderly conduct were dismissed, and Davis was never charged.

The Observer was also responsible for bringing a group called GAP to Clemson, a pro-life group who displayed graphic images of aborted fetuses in Cox Plaza for 2 days, and compared abortion to genocide. Reactions to the display were mixed across the student body.

In the Spring of 2006, the Observer planned and hosted a drawing for an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle clone. The drawing was incredibly controversial, and inspired several students to set up a protest table on the library bridge. Another group of students protested the drawing by asking for numerous free ticket entries, which is legal under South Carolina raffle legislation. The controversial event led to one of the longest threads in Clemsontalk history.

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Contact Information

315 Hendrix Student Center
Clemson, SC 29634

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