The Varsitarian

"The Varsitarian" is the university-wide student newspaper of the University of Santo Tomas (UST). It is one of first student newspapers in the Philippines. It is published monthly, and is also known as "Varsi". The lampoon issue is "The Vuisitarian".

The first issue of "The Varsitarian" came off the press on January 16, 1928, with Pablo Anido as the first editor-in-chief. Anido was the president of the Literary Club, and when Jose Villa Panganiban proposed to then Rector Rev. Fr. Serapio Tamayo, O.P. the formation of a student paper, the Literary Club was converted into "The Varsitarian". [http://www.varsitarian.com/history.asp The Varsitarian: A History] [http://www.varsitarian.com/ The Varsitarian online edition] . Accessed July 30, 2006.]

"The Varsitarian" is one of the founding members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, along with "The GUIDON" of the Ateneo de Manila, "The Philippine Collegian" of the University of the Philippines, Diliman and "The National" of National University. [ [http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:2yog68FCBGgJ:www.cyberdyaryo.com/features/f2001_0810_02.htm+%22The+Varsitarian%22&hl=tl&gl=ph&ct=clnk&cd=25 70 years of campus journalism: ‘We have gone beyond writing’ -- CEGP] (Google archive) "Cyberdyaryo.com". Accessed July 30, 2006] The paper launched its online edition in July 2000.

Throughout the Martial Law period, when all publication was suppressed by the state, "The Varsitarian" was one of the few publications allowed to continue, covering events such as the massive funeral of slain former senator and Marcos foe Benigno Aquino, Jr., which was largely ignored by the mainstream media.

"The Varsitarian's" investigative report on corruption in the Reserved Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) precipitated the abolition of the mandatory military training course but led to the murder of the source of the expose, UST ROTC cadet Mark Chua. [http://www.varsitarian.com/details.asp?id=18 Suspect in Mark Chua slay case falls] [http://www.varsitarian.com/ The Varsitarian online edition] . Accessed July 30, 2006.] It was one of the first to support the call of Cardinal Jaime L. Sin for the resignation of President Joseph Estrada over a scandal involving illegal gambling and tobacco tax kickbacks. This led to Estrada's impeachment and ouster in a public uprising.

Aside from the usual "News", "Opinion", "Literary", "Filipino", "Features" and "Sports" sections of the paper, it also caters to religion with "Witness", "Science and Technology", critique and art appreciation with "Circle", and investigative reports with "Special Reports", a comic page with "Limelight" and artistic photography with "Lenspeak" that had evolved from its "Photo of the Month".

The paper also releases "Montage", a literary folio, organizes "Pautakan", a university-wide quiz competition, [ [http://www.varsitarian.com/pautakan.asp?s=15 The Pautakan: A History] [http://www.varsitarian.com/ The Varsitarian online edition] . Accessed July 30, 2006.] holds "Inkblots", an annual national journalism seminar, [ [http://www.varsitarian.com/inkblots.asp INKBLOTS : The Thomasian Journalism Fellowship] [http://www.varsitarian.com/ The Varsitarian online edition] . Accessed July 30, 2006.] and awards the "Ustetika", a university-wide literary contest. [ [http://www.varsitarian.com/ustetika.asp Ustetika Through the Years] [http://www.varsitarian.com/ The Varsitarian online edition] . Accessed July 30, 2006.]

The paper has produced literary titans, respected journalists, and civil and ecclesiastical leaders: Cirilo Bautista, F. Sionil José, Bienvenido Lumbera, Vice-President Emmanuel Pelaez, Rogelio R. Sikat and Senator Francisco Tatad, among others.

The mascot of the paper is Tomas U. Santos, a Thomasian student who represents the students of the campus. He is usually seen accompanied by a tiger.

Activities

* Pautakan - The university's annual college quiz contest sponsored by the Varsitarian. It is usually held on the last week of February to the first week of March. Notable champions are the Faculties of Arts and Letters and Medicine and Surgery both winning 7 times in the competition's thirty-year history. Arts and Letters became the first team to have a three-peat (2004), four-peat (2005), and five-peat (2006) championships. Medicine and Surgery captured their seventh trophy in 2007 when Arts and Letters decided to 'take a break' from the competition.

References

External links

* [http://www.varsitarian.com/ The Varsitarian online edition]