In 1901, when Fred Lewis Pattee wrote the Penn State Alma Mater —“For the glory of old State, For her founders strong and great”—his lyrics first appeared in The Free Lance, predecessor to The Daily Collegian. By 1969, sixty-eight years later, the Collegian’s orientation issue captured a rather different view of student life: “Welcome freshmen – what a pile of crap. Are you ready to know what life here really is?”
For 137 years, Penn State’s student newspaper has told the story of the university, from debates over whether coeds could wear shorts to photos of streakers wearing nothing at all…from the birth of Penn State football to the downfall of a beloved coach…from grilled stickies at the College Diner (in all its incarnations) to Grilled Stickies Ice Cream at the Penn State Berkey Creamery. (photo by Linsey Fagan, October 2017)
And the Collegian’s reach extends far beyond central Pennsylvania, launching countless distinguished careers in American journalism.
A Challenging Time
Like most news organizations, the Collegian faces significant financial pressures. Beginning in the 2024–25 academic year, the university discontinued its direct general-fund support. While the Collegian continues to be eligible for limited institutional support through student fees and the Penn State Student Media Network, these sources do not replace the stability or scale of the former funding. The loss is real—and deeply felt.
As alumni, we want to ensure that today’s Collegianaires and future generations have the same opportunities we enjoyed. And the Penn State community deserves to continue benefiting from the essential reporting produced by a strong student newsroom.
How You Can Help
The Collegian Alumni Interest Group, in partnership with the Penn State Alumni Association, has created an endowment fund to support the newspaper that has meant so much to all of us. All gifts to the endowment are processed and managed through the PSAA.
Your contribution will provide stipends and prizes that reward excellence and fuel the innovation necessary for the Collegian to thrive in the digital age.
- Gifts of any size are welcome, and may be fulfilled over several years.
- The Collegian is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-deductible.
- The PSAA also accepts gifts of appreciated securities and contributions from donor-advised funds.
With the year drawing to a close, this is an especially meaningful moment to make an end-of-year gift that strengthens student journalism at Penn State.
For more than a century, the Collegian has served students, faculty, alumni, and the State College community. Your support will help ensure its vital work continues for generations. Thank you!
Robyn Radomski
President Board of Directors
Daily Collegian Alumni Interest Group
~ GIVE TO THE Collegian AIG Sustaining Fund.
~ GIVE TO THE Collegian Scholarship Fund.
