| In
the 1990s, under the strong leadership of dedicated students,
the Michiganensian claimed its place among the
nation's elite yearbooks by earning an onslaught of high,
nationally recognized awards. Through the 90s the Ensian
won three Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crowns,
the highest award given to a student publication, along
with two CSPA Silver Crowns. From the Printing Industries
of America, the Ensian was recognized with Premier Print
Awards in 1998 and 1999 for excellence in design.
The
fact that the Michiganensian is competing among
yearbooks with professional faculty advisors makes the
honors it has received all the more meaningful.
The
Michiganensian has been published yearly at the
University for over a century.
The
first of the annuals published by students at the University
was a four-page pamphlet, The University Register,
issued in June 1857. This publication contained the
names of regents, faculty, graduates, students, and
members of the literary and secret societies. During
the school year 1858-1859, the first issue of the Palladium
was published. The Palladium was published semiannually
by a group of seven secret societies or fraternities.
It gradually increased in size and content. In 1886,
it became a book with illustrations and literary material.
Dissatisfied
with their treatment in the Palladium, a group
of anti-secret society independents published the first
issue of The University Castalia in the 1870's.
Then in 1894, the senior class of the Law School published
an annual, called To Wit, later changed to The
Res Gestae.
In
April 1897, the first issue of the Michiganensian
appeared, the result of a consolidation of the Palladium,
the Castillian, and The Res Gestae. It
has remained ever since the official yearbook of the
University of Michigan.
The
name Michiganensian is somewhat of a mystery,
although some say that it means "one who hails
to Michigan." It could also be derived from the
word "ensign" which is a scribe, one who records
events in history.
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