Former What associate editor and self-avowedleftist David A. Plotz '92 called the death ofThe What" a fucking tragedy."

"It's highly symbolic that we are moving from aworld interested in social change to one dominatedby interest in momentary consumer culture," hesaid.

Steven J. Newman '92 said the change was "verysad" but that he had long foreseen it. "When theBerlin Wall fell, we knew it was just a matter oftime," Newman said.

Delivered to every suite on the Harvard campus,as well as to locations at other Bostonuniversities, The What was widelydistributed if not widely respected. Approximately25,000 students received The What.

The What is survived by itsreincarnation, Fifteen Minutes. The newpublication's first issue was distributed today.

According to magazine editor Eryn R. Brown '93,the new weekly will retain many characteristics ofThe What but offer a new image.

"We wanted to change course a few degrees, andthought a new name would help us get a cleanstart," said Brown.

Philip M. Rubin '93, co-editor of the newperiodical, said Fifteen Minutes wouldretain the basic format of reviews, "Backstreets"articles, indepth scrutinies and comprehensivelistings, but would "cut with a new edge."

Rubin said the new magazine will offer morecommentary on recent trends and up-to-the-minutereports on the college scene.

Abbot And Costello

Daniel L. Jacobowitz '93, business manager ofthe magazine, said the name change was partiallymotivated by the Abbot and Costello routine thatoften surfaced when selling ads for TheWhat.

Jacobowitz explained, "A typical conversationmight go, 'Hi, I'm calling from The What?'

'Huh?'

'The What?'

'What?'