The Trinity Tripod, Inc. records

Founded in 1904, The Trinity Tripod is the longest-running student newspaper at Trinity College. The Tripod was originally created as a counterpoint to the existing student newspaper, The Trinity Tablet. While the Tablet focused on art, culture, and literature, the Tripod was geared toward students and alumni and encompassed announcements and sports. The Tablet ceased publication in 1908 and the Tripod became the predominant campus newspaper. Over the years, the content of the publication has changed to focus on student life as well as becoming a sounding board for student views on politics, current events, and the College administration. Conversely, the Tripod also serves as a way for the Administration to communicate with students.

The Tripod is funded through each semester's Student Activities Fee as well as through subscriptions, donations, and advertisements. The paper aims to provide students and faculty with complete campus news, while also amplifying student voices. Since its founding, the Tripod has been published nearly continuously, with the exception of certain issues, often during wartime. It is published on Tuesdays while classes are in session, and distributed throughout campus. The Tripod office sits under Jackson Hall Dormitory.

In the paper's earliest days, the Tripod clearly influenced the political consciousness of the student body, carefully tracking the political career of President Flavel Sweeten Luther. Student polls have been a large part of the Tripod, and even today, news and politics remain a part of the paper, with the Opinion section largely serving as a platform for students to voice their political opinions.

The Tripod's motto, “Now, then – Trinity!” first appeared in the paper's masthead in the September 30, 1904 issue. These were the “first words President Luther addressed to his students” on the evening of his election, a “slogan of onset and action” which inspired so deeply that the students felt it necessary to memorialize for all time. In his election speech, Luther evoked the image of a football captain inspiring the team, telling “of the old football signal… given at a stage of the game when its successful execution meant a touchdown, and its success depended upon every man. If one failed to do his part the chance to win a game was lost.” For the students listening, “Now, then – Trinity” was the signal “for trustee, alumni, student, for every Trinity man who stands waiting to do his full share for his alma mater.” These words continue to serve as the paper's motto to this day.

Famous alumni who wrote for the Tripod include Los Angeles Times sports writer Jim Murray ’43, Washington Post columnist George F. Will ’62, Philadelphia Inquirer editor William K. Marimow ’69, and Washington Post columnist Steven Pearlstein ’73-–all four are Pulitzer Prize winners. Other notable alumni include New York Times features writer Peter Kilborn ’61, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack ’88, and Sports Illustrated writer Stephanie Apstein ’10.

The Tripod has won several awards, including the first-place prize with special merit by the American Scholastic Press Association in 1992 as well awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in 1992 and 2001. The paper also has several traditions, including an annual April Fools' edition called the Trinity Liepod, which includes jokes and satirical articles.

Beginning in 1917 and through today, the Tripod has been published once a week and is currently also available online.