History of The Collegian

"All progress is the result of mental activity. Therefore the condition of the mind determines the extent of that progress. If the mind is sluggish, advancement is impossible." Nov. 21, 1891, The Rocky Mountain Collegian

With that opening paragraph on page 1, Volume 1, The Rocky Mountain Collegian launched a legacy that has made the newspaper the oldest continuously published student publication in Colorado and among the oldest in the nation.

In the 1890s, students paid $1 a year for the Collegian (a sizable sum, considering a suit could be purchased in Fort Collins for $2). If a student did not pay, the editor contacted the student personally and, if not paid by the end of the academic year, printed the student's name as a "debtor."

In 1907, the Associated Students, known as ASCSU today, was created to act as the Collegian's publisher and to collect student fees to pay for the newspaper. By the early 1920s, the Collegian was printed more often than once a month and, by the 1930s, was consistently published as a weekly newspaper.

After World War II, the Collegian was published up to three times a week (depending on each editor's choice and whether the budget would allow more frequent publication).

During the 1940s and 1950s, the newspaper became unpopular in the Fort Collins community because of its unpopular editorial stances against racism and its support for women's rights. In fact, perhaps until the 1980s, the newspaper was not always welcome in the community because of these and other "radical" positions, and there were times when local governmental offices refused to allow the newspaper to be distributed on public property.

In the early 1970s, the newspaper began publishing daily, but ran into substantial financial difficulties, which resulted in the hiring of a full-time business manager. Late in the 1970s and early 1980s, as annual advertising sales exceeded a quarter of a million dollars, additional full-time staff were hired to work in support roles in billing, advertising sales, and production. By 1985, however, the Vollegian once again experienced severe financial problems with an accumulated cash deficit of more than $100,000, and was plagued by outdated equipment and facilities.

Following a period of high professional staff turnover from 1981 to 1986 (there were five business managers in five years), a review committee created the position of Student Media general manager and reorganized the Board of Student Communications. After two years the deficit was eliminated and the newspaper embarked on a long-range plan the modernize facilities and acquire new equipment, primarily digital imaging systems and Postscript-based computers.

Over the years the quality of the paper has varied widely, largely depending on the Editor-in-chief and her or his staff. Some years the newspaper struggled just to come out on time. In other years, the Collegian won national recognition as among the elite in the college newspaper business.

During the 1990s, the Rocky Mountain Collegian was twice selected as one of the top twelve daily student newspapers in America. these honors were bestowed in association with the Newspaper Association of America Foundation, the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press.

The competition for national recognition is intense, however, and the flood of 1997 that heavily impacted Colorado State and destroyed the Collegian's offices set the newspaper back in a number of ways. While the staff only missed one edition following the devastating flood, the paper lost its home on campus and its facilities, and had to operated out of a bus maintenance garage at the former Fort Collins High School on Remington Street until returning to campus in November 1998.

The flood's curse became a real blessing, however, after Student Media received more than $2 million in insurance settlements to totally remodel its space and buy new equipment. Today the Collegian can boast of a very modern facilities and equipment. But the most important element in a newspaper is not facilities or equipment, but rather the people. Beginning with the fall of 2000, a new energy and vitality and a commitment to excellence is readily evident throughout the Collegian newsroom and other departments. that commitment is to regaining the Collegian's status as a leader, not only nationally but also in its service to the Colorado State campus.

As the Collegian looks forward to its 110th birthday in the fall of 2001, this year will prove to be a milestone in shaping the newspaper's continuing legacy of excellence and service.