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Chris Rock's Support Not Enough to Save "Illtop"

By Kevin Harris
Black College Wire

Chris Rock

A sluggish economy and a lack of funds are being blamed for the demise of what is believed to be the first comedy magazine published by a historically black college or university. After publishing two issues of the Illtop Journal, and preparing but failing to release two others, Howard University has folded the magazine.

"Every time we got ready to get started, the economy would take a nose dive and contributions would begin to slow," said Jannette L. Dates, dean of the School of Communications.

She said that the university still intended to release a comedy magazine, but would not be able to do so until more funds could be invested into the project.

"We're still looking for more funds and are interested in finding ways to recruit more ad dollars that will help to sustain the project," Dates said.

It was comedian Chris Rock's idea to publish the magazine, which first appeared in 1999. Dates said that Rock continues to pledge his financial support and promises to encourage more blacks to become involved in similar endeavors.

"Mr. Rock has been there from the very beginning," Dates said. "He has helped tremendously financially and has always made members of his staff available to the university."

Before the 1999 launch, Rock had said such a magazine was needed because "our comedy-writing skills are far behind that of the white man," according to the Washington Post.

That article said it was while Rock was a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" in the late 1980s that he first considered producing a humor magazine. He noticed that cast members who'd gone to Harvard and worked for the Harvard Lampoon, a renowned parody magazine, wrote well while he struggled.

Rock said then that if he ever made it big in comedy, he would produce a black humor magazine at a black college.

Dates remains optimistic about the project and says she will continue to work with Rock and others to revive the Illtop because "we know that there is a market out there for something like this." The Illtop's faculty adviser, Jim Brown, shares Rock's and Dates' optimism that the magazine will return.

Said Brown, "Everyone involved in the project is ready to see it go again. This was a great idea that needs more attention." According to Brown, the purpose of the magazine is "to have a vehicle through which young people could learn, practice and understand humor as well as gain an understanding for the intricate tasks involved in producing a magazine, which is quite different from producing a newspaper."

However, some Howard students did not share Brown's enthusiasm. Sophomore political science major Michelle O'Kyere said, "I wouldn't really be interested in something like that because it wouldn't bring anything to my life. I think that all entertainment is good, but it just wouldn't be helpful to me to read a magazine full of jokes when there are more serious issues that should be discussed."

Chris Auukwwem, a junior electrical engineering major, had a different view, saying that "a comedy magazine would be nice and could lighten up the mood a lot around here. However, I know that there are some people who dislike that kind of joking around. Just look at the controversy that was caused by that April fool's joke in The Hilltop" last year.

The student newspaper wrote on April Fool's Day about a campus police strike, the resignation of President H. Patrick Swygert and the closure of a dormitory, among other items. Not everyone got the hoax, or appreciated it.

Kevin Harris, a student at Howard University, writes for The Hilltop.

Posted Feb. 2, 2004