Website review
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What is The Wake?
The Wake is a student-run magazine at the University of Minnesota, published fortnightly and covering news, arts and entertainment. Its homepage presents it as a place for student writing and creative work, with sections for featured videos, staff letters, an art showcase and themed pieces, plus a search for finding a particular author or story. It also invites readers to subscribe and offers merch.
Who it suits
- Prospective students and new arrivals who want a student perspective on campus and Twin Cities culture before or during their first term.
- Student writers, artists and editors looking for a publication to contribute to or learn from; the staff letters and art director's notes show the magazine as a working editorial team, not just a feed.
- Readers following student arts and opinion, who prefer magazine-style features, humor and personal essays over straight campus news.
What to expect
The evidence points to a lively, personality-driven mix rather than a formal news wire: recurring features like "Wake Eyes," "aWake After Dark," an ASMR piece and an art showcase sit alongside opinion such as "A Voter's Dilemma." That makes it useful for sampling student voice and campus creative culture; anyone needing verified institutional news or research should look to official university sources instead.
As a next step, start with the Staff Letters section to understand the magazine's tone and who runs it, then use the author/story search to follow a writer whose work you like. If you are considering contributing, read a few recent issues first and note the formats—video, essay, visual art—that match what you want to make.
How can I subscribe to The Wake and what do I get with a subscription?
The Wake's own site points readers to a subscription page rather than describing tiers or benefits in the page text available here. The most reliable next step is to open The Wake and follow its "Subscribe" link, then check what the sign-up form actually asks for and what it says you will receive.
What to expect from a student magazine subscription
The Wake is a fortnightly student-run news, arts and entertainment publication at the University of Minnesota, so a subscription most plausibly means regular delivery of that editorial mix: campus news, arts coverage, staff letters and features. Treat that as the likely shape of the offering, not a confirmed list of subscriber perks.
Before subscribing, decide what you actually want:
- If you want the journalism, confirm whether subscription means a print copy, an email digest, or both, and how often it arrives.
- If you want to support student work, check whether there is a separate donation or membership option, since magazines often split "subscribe" from "support us."
- If you are outside campus, ask whether delivery or access extends beyond the University of Minnesota community.
Practical check before you sign up
Look for the price, the delivery frequency and the cancellation terms on the subscription page itself; none of these are confirmed in the site information available. If the page is thin on details, the staff letters section on the same site is a reasonable place to see who runs the publication and how to reach them with a question.
How can I find a specific author or story from past issues of The Wake?
Use The Wake's on-site search to look for an author's name or a distinctive word from the story's title or subject, then narrow the results by section (news, arts, entertainment) or by date. The homepage's "Looking for a particular author or story?" search box is the intended starting point, and the site's category pages—including staff letters, art showcases and video features—help when you only remember the kind of piece rather than its headline.
A practical sequence for a reader trying to track down an old article:
- Search the byline first. Enter the author's full name as it appeared in print; nicknames and shortened forms often miss.
- Search a remembered phrase. Use two or three words from the headline or opening line rather than a vague topic like "music."
- Browse the section archive. If the search is thin, scan the category listing for the issue's approximate date—The Wake publishes fortnightly, so pieces cluster around alternating weeks.
- Check staff letters and featured videos. These are separate homepage blocks, so a piece you remember as an article may actually sit there.
If the site's own search comes up empty, a site-restricted search engine query—the publication's name plus the author's name—often surfaces indexed pages the internal tool misses. For University of Minnesota context around a story, the university's own news site University of Minnesota can confirm dates and campus events referenced in older pieces.
The main trade-off is speed versus precision: name searches are fast but fail on common names, while browsing by issue date is slower but reliable when you remember roughly when something ran. Start with the byline; if two or three attempts return nothing, switch to browsing the archive by month.
What kinds of student-written content does The Wake publish, such as news, arts, and entertainment?
The Wake publishes student-written news, arts and entertainment content for the University of Minnesota community. Its page_evidence points to a mix of campus reporting, creative and visual work, opinion-style pieces and recurring features rather than a single beat.
What the evidence shows
- Arts and culture coverage, including an art showcase ("Art Showcase Vol. 1") and design-focused items.
- Entertainment and lifestyle features, such as "Lime vs Bird," "Wakimals" and an ASMR piece.
- Opinion and commentary, suggested by titles like "A Voter's Dilemma" and "#replyall."
- Seasonal and themed features, such as "A Wake Halloween" and "aWake After Dark."
- Visual and multimedia work, including a featured videos section and a cover slideshow gallery.
- Staff letters, with an example "Letter from the Art Director," giving readers a behind-the-scenes view of the publication.
- Author and story discovery, through a search prompt for "a particular author or story."
How a reader might use it
A student interested in campus arts could browse the art showcase and design pieces; someone looking for lighter features might start with the themed or entertainment items. The staff letters suit readers who want to understand how the magazine is put together.
Next step: use the site's author/story search to follow a particular writer or topic, or check the staff letters for context on how sections are edited and produced.
How can University of Minnesota students get involved with or contribute to The Wake?
University of Minnesota students can get involved with The Wake through student editorial and creative roles rather than as outside readers. The publication describes itself as a student-operated news, arts and entertainment magazine, and its homepage invites visitors to "Be a part of the Wake!" — a clear signal that contributors are part of how it is produced.
Practical ways to start
- Pitch or write a story. The Wake covers news, arts and entertainment, so a student could propose a campus news piece, a review or a feature in one of those areas. The homepage's "Looking for a particular author or story?" search shows it publishes bylined work, which suggests individual contributors are credited.
- Contribute art or design. The site includes an Art Director's staff letter and an "Art Showcase," so illustration, layout and visual work are part of what it publishes. A student artist could offer artwork or help with design.
- Join multimedia or video work. The "Featured Videos" section indicates video is part of the output, making it a route for students interested in filming or editing.
- Take a staff role. "Staff Letters" and the student-operated description point to an organized staff; students typically join by expressing interest in a specific section and building a portfolio of contributions.
A useful next step
Decide which section fits your skills, then prepare two or three concrete ideas — a story pitch, a sample illustration or a short video concept — and contact the magazine through the channels listed on its site. For a broader view of student media at the university, compare with other campus publications only if you have confirmed their official pages.
How to choose
| If your strength is… | Aim for… | What to bring |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting and writing | News, arts or entertainment stories | A short pitch with an angle and sources |
| Visual art | Art showcase or design support | A small portfolio or sample |
| Video and editing | Featured videos | A clip or storyboard idea |
Contributing to a student magazine builds published clips and campus contacts, but it usually involves unpaid, deadline-driven work alongside classes, so start with one section and a manageable commitment.
Where can I buy The Wake merchandise?
The Wake's own site points readers to a Merch section, reached from the "Be a part of the wake!" area of the homepage. That is the first place to check for official items. The site also links to a Subscribe page, which is separate from merchandise and is for following the publication rather than buying goods.
How to use this
- Open The Wake and look for the Merch link near the top of the homepage. If the section is empty or out of date, contact the magazine's student staff through the contact details on the site and ask whether items are sold at campus events instead.
- Treat third-party listings claiming to be "The Wake" merchandise with caution unless the magazine itself links to them. Student publications often sell through in-person tables or limited runs, so availability can change between issues.
Decision criterion
If you want a specific item for a gift or deadline, confirm stock and pickup or shipping directly with the publication before relying on the site listing. If you simply want to support the magazine, a subscription or attending a staff event may be the more reliable route.
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