About the Collegian

We are The Collegian, South Dakota State University’s student-run independent newspaper.

Our coverage is 24/7 online and we run a 14-20 page tabloid paper weekly that’s free for students, faculty and community members.

The Collegian wants to tell your story. If you’re interested in contributing stories, photos, drawings or social media content submit an application here. Or contact [email protected].

A 137-year-old history

Upon its founding, the newspaper was first called the College Sheaves. It was a monthly publication led by then Editor-in-Chief E.A. Anderson and published by the Dakota Agricultural College.

The first issue was published Jan. 31, 1885.

The front page of the College Sheaves said this: “The people of Dakota have favored us by establishing the Dakota Agricultural College for our benefit, we feel it our duty to do all in our power to help build it up and make it one of the leading colleges of the Northwest–consequently this paper. We know that we have quite a task to perform, as our school is young, small and inexperienced in newspaper publishing; nevertheless, we will endeavor to carry out our banner unfurled…”

The Collegian has changed its publication name multiple times over its more than a century span.

First, it was the Sheaves, it was changed to the Dakota Collegian in April 1885. It was changed again to the South Dakota Collegian by the beginning of the 1891 school year. By the summer of 1893, it was then switched to The Industrial Collegian, publishing twice a month. In 1914, it changed to the South Dakota Collegian and then changed to the SDSU Collegian in February of 1969.

The final name change was made in March of 1978 to what it’s known as today, The Collegian.

The Collegian has been there for important events like Sen. Ted Kennedy visiting campus in 1968, coverage of World War I when Hobo Day was canceled for the war effort and coverage of the very first Hobo Day celebration in 1912.

The Collegian sued the South Dakota Board of Regents after Robert T. “Tad” Perry, former executive director of the SDBOR, said members of the media were not allowed to attend open forums for the hiring of former SDSU President David Chicoine.