Design, Creation and Approval

Sharing a viewpoint or opinion on campus has been a long standing purpose of student groups at the University of Minnesota. As a collective whole, it is their purpose to share this opinion or viewpoint to the larger community in order to gain awareness and additional members. This may include specific information on when and where the next rally would take place, a longer narrative on the effects of a cultural event or a self-created cartoon or image that speaks louder than words. 

What now can be designed on a computer and printed, once had to be physically drawn and copied, using a mimeograph or a duplicating machine. The mimeograph would produce hundreds of copies in a single sitting, using a stencil that ink was pressed through to reveal the design of the flier or poster. 

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By the early 1940s to the late 1970s, student groups looking to advertise their fliers or posters across campus had to gain permission through the Student Activities Bureau (SAB), which oversaw student life outside of academics. If approved, fliers and posters were to be only placed on official campus bulletin boards and were removed after one week by University Services. At some point, poster regulations required the stamping of approval by SAB onto the corner of a flier or poster that was being advertised. If no stamp was visible on the item, it would be taken down by a staff member and the student group would be identified and potentially fined for their actions. 

“This kiosk has been placed on the mall in front of the Physics Building to be used as a bulletin board, to avoid having organizations place posters on trees and around light posts. 

Student comments after seeing it have varied from ‘cool’ to ‘What’s that? – the eyesore of the week?’”

- The Minnesota Daily, April 7, 1967