The 2025-26 school year marks The Forum’s 60th year of publication, and we’re commemorating it in style. As any good newspaper would, we want to celebrate with what we do best: journalism. Every month, we’ll be rewinding the clock and giving you the highlights of six decades of our coverage. We ask only that you sit back, relax, and enjoy a look back at Latin through the years.
In March 1970, 56 years ago, senior projects were a new program: “Five seniors have now applied to the newly created Extern Project committee of the faculty for permission to take as much as one month off from classes in order to work on their senior projects.”
In March 1973, 53 years ago, Latin hosted a science fair: “All of you budding young scientists and inventors out there will get your big chance to exhibit your wonderful prowess in your special field in just a couple of weeks.”
In March 1974, 52 years ago, a now-unfamiliar club made headlines: “With the onset of the new semester, the student body has evinced great enthusiasm for the newly acclaimed Backgammon Club.”
In March 1976, 50 years ago, The Forum held its very own science fiction writing competition: “The Forum will award first, second, and third prizes for the best stories based on one of the following themes: time travel, E.S.P., World War III or ecological disaster, extraterrestrials, robots, or mutants.”
In March 1981, 45 years ago, soda can design changed—and not necessarily for the better: “A can of Coke with one of those nifty new tops; you know, the ones where you pull the tab up, which pushes the little circular disc into your drink, and then you push the tab down again. Then you spend the next fifteen minutes, or however long it takes you to finish drinking, worrying about whether the little disc has fallen into the can, only to fall out again as you take your next sip and choke you to death.”
In March 1987, 39 years ago, a fashion show raised funds for Prom: “For $2/kids and $5/adults, one can view the latest fashions from Benetton and Mario, an up and coming men's fashion designer, and help the juniors and seniors pay for their prom.”
In March 1989, 37 years ago, grade-wide programming on AIDS was in order: “Split into groups of ten or twelve, sophomores shared knowledge and concerns over the disease which threatens us all.”
In March 1992, 34 years ago, the Reed Gym got its name: “On February 6th, more than thirteen years after its construction, the roof gym was dedicated to Mr. Kersey Coates Reed.”
