Varsity (Cambridge)

Varsity is the older of Cambridge University's main student newspapers (The Cambridge Student is the other, younger, one). Founded in 1931, the paper went bankrupt the following year with losses of £100. It was re-established in 1947. In the mid-1970s, it merged with the radical campaigning student paper Stop Press.

Related Topics:
Cambridge University - Newspaper - The Cambridge Student - Stop Press

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Many of those who wrote for the paper during their student days have since gone on to achieve distinction in later life. Famous ex-editors include the BBC's Jeremy Paxman, film director Michael Winner, historian Jonathan Spence, the late television presenter Richard Whiteley, Financial Times editor Andrew Gowers, and novelist Robert Harris.

Related Topics:
BBC - Jeremy Paxman - Michael Winner - Jonathan Spence - Richard Whiteley - Financial Times - Andrew Gowers - Robert Harris

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Some of Sylvia Plath's earliest poems and J G Ballard's first published story were written for the paper. Meanwhile, legendary comic Peter Cook met his first wife while posing for a Varsity May Ball photoshoot. Naturally, the paper has also launched the careers of many journalists, including in recent times Guardian music reviewer Alex Petridis and Independent columnist Johann Hari. Controversial BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan, famed for a row with Downing Street, was once a news editor. Other notable contributors who have had later success in other fields include Michael Frayn, Clive James and even Charles, Prince of Wales.

Related Topics:
Sylvia Plath - J G Ballard - Peter Cook - Guardian - Andrew Gilligan - Michael Frayn - Clive James - Charles, Prince of Wales

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Advertising in Varsity has traditionally been seen as highly useful by graduate recruiters hoping to attract Cambridge students. As a result the newspaper is able to distribute free copies to members of the university without relying on student union funding and it was the first student newspaper in the UK to produce a colour section. Varsity also claims that its funding structure means that it is independent from student politics, unlike the vast majority of similar publications in other UK universities. The only other student newspaper to operate similarly is Oxford's Cherwell.

Related Topics:
Oxford - Cherwell

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Stories first revealed in Varsity have often gone on to receive coverage in the UK's national press. In recent years reports to capture wider attention have included the leak of the name of the Cambridge's latest vice-Chancellor, news about student protests concerning higher education funding, and a host of lighter reports about undergraduate excesses. Other stories have had a more lasting significance. When, following the discovery of DNA, James Watson and Francis Crick produced the first X-ray photographs of the double helix structure, Varsity was the first newspaper in the world to report the event.

Related Topics:
James Watson - Francis Crick

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Varsity is published by Varsity Publications, a not-for-profit company and a registered charity. The company also produces a number of other student publications such as BlueSci - a science magazine - and the May Anthologies - a collection of short stories by Cambridge and Oxford students. The "Mays" have been published annually since 1992 and are most famous for launching the career of novelist Zadie Smith. She was first noticed by literary agencies after her short story Private Tutor appeared in the 1997 collection.

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The paper was successful in the 2004 Guardian student media awards where it won the prize for best columnist and came runner-up in best sports writer category.

Related Topics:
2004 - Guardian

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