''The Varsity'' is the official
student newspaper
A student publication is a media outlet such as a newspaper, magazine, television show, or radio station Graduate student journal, produced by students at an educational institution. These publications typically cover local and school-related new ...
of the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, in publication since 1880. Originally a broadsheet daily, it is now printed in
compact
Compact as used in politics may refer broadly to a pact or treaty; in more specific cases it may refer to:
* Interstate compact, a type of agreement used by U.S. states
* Blood compact, an ancient ritual of the Philippines
* Compact government, a t ...
form. The paper's primary focus is on tri-campus affairs and local news.
The paper publishes weekly on all campuses during the fall and winter semesters and online throughout the year, along with two seasonal magazines. The paper is published by Varsity Publications, a not-for-profit corporation, and is primarily financed by advertisement revenues with subsidies from a student
levy.
History
At the height of debate on coeducation in 1880, ''The Varsity'' published an article in its inaugural issue in favour of admitting women.
In 1895, the suspension of ''The Varsitys editor, James Tucker, led Latin Professor Dale to publicly attack the administration in ''
The Globe'', which in turn led to his own dismissal. University College students then approved a motion by ''Varsity'' editorial staff member
William Lyon Mackenzie King and boycotted lectures for a week. King later became Canada's longest serving Prime Minister.
After
Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau (October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000) was a Canadian politician, statesman, and lawyer who served as the 15th prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. Between his no ...
decriminalized homosexuality in 1969, a medical research assistant placed an advertisement in ''The Varsity'' seeking volunteers to establish the first university homophile association in Canada.
In 2017, ''The Varsity'' began publishing a Chinese-language edition of the newspaper on their website.
Notable past staff
*
Peter Gzowski
Peter John Gzowski (July 13, 1934 – January 24, 2002), known colloquially as "Mr. Canada", or "Captain Canada",Mary Gazze Canadian Press via The ''Toronto Star'', August 23, 2010. Retrieved 2016-06-27. was a Canadian broadcaster, write ...
, broadcaster and reporter, host of
CBC's ''
Morningside'' (1982–1997)
*
Michael Ignatieff
Michael Grant Ignatieff ( ; born May 12, 1947) is a Canadian author, academic and former politician who served as leader of the Liberal Party and leader of the Opposition from 2008 until 2011. Known for his work as a historian, Ignatieff has ...
, public intellectual, academic at the
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Member of Parliament, and former Leader of the
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC; , ) is a federal political party in Canada. The party espouses the principles of liberalism,McCall, Christina; Stephen Clarkson"Liberal Party". ''The Canadian Encyclopedia''. and generally sits at the Centrism, ...
*
Michael Kesterton, columnist for ''
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...
''
*
William Lyon Mackenzie King, 10th
Prime Minister of Canada
The prime minister of Canada () is the head of government of Canada. Under the Westminster system, the prime minister governs with the Confidence and supply, confidence of a majority of the elected House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons ...
*
Mark Kingwell, professor of the University of Toronto, senior fellow of
Massey College
*
Naomi Klein, journalist, author of ''
No Logo'' and ''
The Shock Doctrine''
*
David Megginson, computer software developer
*
Chandler Levack,
writer and filmmaker
*
Linda McQuaig
Linda Joy McQuaig (born September 1951) is a Canadian journalist, columnist, author and social critic. She worked as a reporter investigating the Patti Starr affair. She wrote books and newspaper columns focusing on corporate influence in econ ...
, ''
Toronto Star
The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part of Torstar's Daily News Brands (Torstar), Daily News Brands division.
...
'' columnist
*
Tom Walkom, ''
Toronto Star
The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part of Torstar's Daily News Brands (Torstar), Daily News Brands division.
...
'' columnist
*
Bob Rae
Robert Keith Rae (born August 2, 1948) is a Canadian diplomat and former politician who is the current Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations since 2020. He previously served as the 21st premier of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, leader of the ...
,
Rhodes Scholar
The Rhodes Scholarship is an international Postgraduate education, postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom. The scholarship is open to people from all backgrounds around the world.
Esta ...
, 21st
Premier of Ontario, Member of Parliament
*
Edward Roberts, 11th
Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador
*
Frank Shuster and
Johnny Wayne, comedians, best known for their work as comedy duo
Wayne and Shuster
*
Isabel Vincent, journalist for the ''
National Post
The ''National Post'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet newspaper and the flagship publication of the American-owned Postmedia Network. It is published Mondays through Saturdays, with Monday released as a digital e-edition only. '', former correspondent for
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...
''
*
Clive Thompson, journalist and science and technology writer for
Wired (magazine)
''Wired'' is a bi-monthly American magazine that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. It is published in both print and Online magazine, online editions by Condé Nast. The magazine has been in public ...
*
Tanya Talaga, journalist, author of
Seven Fallen Feathers
*
Barbara Amiel, journalist, ''
Maclean's'' columnist
*
Jason Szep, Pulitzer Prize winner and International Affairs Editor with ''
Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency ...
''
*
James Laxer, political economist
See also
*
List of student newspapers in Canada
*
List of newspapers in Canada
This list of newspapers in Canada is a list of newspapers printed and distributed in Canada. Daily newspapers
Local weeklies Alberta
* Bashaw – ''Bashaw Star''
* Bassano – ''Bassano Times''
* Beaumont – ''Beaumont News''
* Beaverlodg ...
References
External links
''The Varsity''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varsity, The
Student newspapers published in Ontario
University of Toronto
Newspapers published in Toronto
Newspapers established in 1880
Canadian University Press
Weekly newspapers published in Ontario
1880 establishments in Ontario