Today in History

The Blue Potato
January 11, 2000

With the publication of "Volume I, Episode III", the Blue Potato has become Portsmouth Abbey's most frequently published newspaper. "This newspaper is now the ultimate power on this campus," boasted Joe McDonough, the paper's chief editor. "Don't be too proud of this journalistic terror you've created," retorted "Darth" McDonough, Joe's father. "The ability to publish a newspaper is insignificant next to the power of the Faculty."

As a quasi-underground newspaper the fame of the Blue Potato spread rapidly, resulting in letters to the editor from "Red Potato" impersonators, anonymous gifts of blue potatoes from Maine, and of course spawning a serious of motion pictures. Abbot Matthew Stark, OSB would later write:

"An outstanding example of investigative reporting... dedicated to searching for truth and convicting hypocrisy, falsehood, and things outlandish. Magna est veritas et praevalebit."

The Blue Potato held the coveted position of most frequently published newspaper against all comers (not that there were any to speak of) until the fall of 2001, when the chief editor sold out to the school administration and revived the by-then defunct Abbey Voice as The Beacon. The rest, as they say, is history.