Fanshawe College is failing its students.
After serving the student body and campus voices for five decades, The Interrobang, Fanshawe’s student-run newspaper, is being shut down by the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU). The paper will cease publication and related operations effective April 4. They claim this decision wasn’t made lightly, but it shouldn’t have been made at all—student journalism’s place is non-negotiable.
Bearing the slogan “Fanshawe College’s Student Voice,” The Interrobang and its team of student journalists are as integral as any other entity on campus. Yet, this importance hasn’t been met with the it deserves.
For a decision of this magnitude—one that directly impacts the student body—the absence of student input is glaring. The decision to shutter the paper was unanimously voted upon by student executives and the student board of directors, with no input from the actual students running the paper or the students they inform.
Unlike other student newspapers funded through a through a dedicated student fee or independent budget, The Interrobang operates entirely on FSU funding. The union now plans to reallocate these funds toward running social media or financing other leadership roles. Students unwilling to see the paper go put forth a petition asking for signatures in of holding referendum to ask if students will pay $2 to keep the paper running. It’s since gained significant media attention, including from CBC. Despite this action, the FSU’s commitment to follow through with a referendum remains uncertain.
The FSU’s disregard for student journalism is loud and clear. For a school with two journalism programs, Multimedia and Television and Digital News, the union still claims the audience for student journalism is dying. Yet, declining readership doesn’t diminish the need for journalism. Giving up on a paper just because fewer people pick up physical copies sets a precedence for disrespect for students’ craft in telling and sharing stories.
The role of student newspapers seems to be lost on those making this decision. But it’s worth noting that student journalism is real journalism.
Post-secondary institutions are like microcosms of the broader world—student journalism serves to colleges and universities what mainstream news media serves to real-world politics. So, not only does the paper cover important matters, it also keeps institutions able and keeps students informed about decisions and happenings that directly affect them.
Student papers serve many functions—not just for readers, but also for the writers, editors, and those running the business and operations side. For some, the campus newspaper is a fun extracurricular, but for many, it’s a critical stepping stone into professional journalism and media careers. At Queen’s, where there’s no journalism program, The Journal is that place for aspiring students. And we couldn’t be more grateful for it.
Regardless of their reason for ing, the paper allows students to build connections, meet like-minded people, and work together in a professional setting. Shuttering it means closing doors to all these opportunities.
The lack of attention and consideration paid to the benefits of student journalism is telling of what a half-hearted, selfish decision it is to shut down The Interrobang. Student unions simply don’t have the same depth of understanding or care for newspapers that student journalists do to make decisions on their behalf with zero consultation.
But student advocacy, staying afloat amid changing policies, and fighting for recognition are battles familiar to any student-run newspaper. They’re challenges we’ve all faced that allow us to empathize with one another.
The world of student journalism may be small, but it’s mighty—if we stand up for each other and offer , there might be hope in saving The Interrobang.
—Journal Editorial Board
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