This month marks the 100th birthday of Detroit Mercy’s student-run newspaper The Varsity News. The first issue, with the headline “Varsity News Begins Career” was published Jan. 30, 1918, and called itself a “fortnightly chronicle” and was financed by donations from 24 young male University of Detroit students.
Because these students agreed they would never realize a profit from the newspaper, the article said, “their action, then cannot be construed otherwise than as an unselfish effort to fill a long-felt need of the University. If the venture fails they fail financially, but in another sense, the whole student body fails.”
Today, the paper still comes out fortnightly, though over its first century, the paper has been published more and less frequently, depending on the size and dedication of the mostly volunteer staff. The paper can be found online, too, at thevarsitynews.net.
Associate Professor of Communications Tom Stanton has been the faculty advisor since 2008 and says alumni of the Varsity News have found success in the news media, marketing and public relations positions. And because the News always welcomed any student willing to work, regardless of his or her major, they are found in many other fields as well.
Stanton is hoping to gather as many Varsity News alumni at a celebration in honor of the paper’s anniversary at an event during Homecoming Weekend 2018, Sept. 28-29.
Stanton is seeking more volunteers for the event’s organizing committee, and encourages News alumni to get in touch.
“We want to hear from everyone who worked on the Varsity News, so they can join in the celebration,” Stanton said.
Anyone interested in helping plan the event or who wants more information can email varsitynews100@gmail.com.
