A respected magazine that chronicles Canadian history has been forced to change its name, a victim to the proliferation of potty-mouthed college students whose prurient interests prompted universities to block its name using web content filters.
The Beaver, founded in 1920 by the Hudson’s Bay Company on the occasion of its 250th birthday, was named for the company’s success in the sale of beaver pelts. It’s now published by Canada’s National History Society.
Over the last couple of years, says society president and CEO Deborah Morrison in The New York Times, it has become clear that the vulgar anatomical reference was becoming a problem by blocking not only web pages, but also materials e-mailed to teachers and other readers. She said there have been debates about the name going back almost four decades, but readers steadfastly stood by the historic moniker.
Last week’s issue was the last to bear the old name, and readers so far have been supportive of the unique postion the magazine has found itself in.
