Burglars Force Pierce Student Reporters Back to Typewriters

Burglars who broke into the office of Pierce College’s student newspaper the Roundup this week stole most of the computers used by the staff, who now face having to get the campus newspaper out the old-fashioned way: using the typewriter.

The burglary was discovered at the Woodland Hills school Wednesday morning by a student who found a door to the office forced open and all six of the newsroom computers missing.

Two other computers, used by advisers, were left behind. They were locked in another room, which the burglars had tried unsuccessfully to break into.

“They ransacked the place,” said Alan Kalbrofsky, a staff writer and editorial board member. “It looks empty now. It’s kind of depressing.”

What also depressed the students is that only two computers remain to be shared by the weekly newspaper’s 30 staff members. Many of the reporters and editors will have to use the typewriter, which is regarded as a dinosaur in modern newsrooms by younger journalists who learned their craft on computers.

4 Typewriters Untouched

Kalbrofsky noted that the thieves left the newspaper’s four typewriters untouched--just as most members of the staff had previously done.

“I hate writing a story with a typewriter,” he said. “But we will have to make do with them. They are electric at least. That helps.”

The burglary may hamper production schedules and writing and editing, but it will not prevent publication of the newspaper or a campus magazine, said Joseph Soccoccio, chairman of the college’s media arts department. The operation had been closed for the holidays, and the next edition of the newspaper is not due out until Jan. 11, with the publication of the magazine to follow Jan. 17.

Campus Police Sgt. Ken Reynolds said there are no suspects in the break-in, which apparently occurred late Tuesday. He said evidence indicates that at least two burglars stole the computers, which had been bolted down, and a printer and other items. The estimated loss from the burglary is $8,300.

Soccoccio said the computers were insured but it was unclear whether the insurance will completely replace the equipment. Therefore, he said, it was unknown how long it will be before the newspaper gets back on line with a full set of computers.

“They will still get the paper out,” Soccoccio said. “They will just have to go back to the old-fashioned way and use the typewriters.”

“We will persevere,” said Kalbrofsky, who noted that the Roundup’s office burned down 2 years ago without interrupting publication of the paper.