The Daily Utah Chronicle is well into its 129th year. To celebrate this ancient (by Generation Z) achievement, we’re reflecting on our biggest accomplishments and black eyes from the beginning when we published random print editions to the online daily news and entertainment source we are today.
Dec. 16, 1892: Formation of the Chronicle
With Managing Editor W.T. Riter at the helm, the first issue of the Chronicle covered a successful baseball season, pondered over Shakespeare’s appearance and reported on the growth of both the “Zeta Gama” and “Delta Phi” societies at the U. The paper accepted free writing, poetry and more. Maybe we should start doing that again? We’ll ask our editor-in-chief.
1914: Beginning of World War I
As the U was preparing to graduate its largest class (108 students), the world was preparing to go to war.
1918: End of World War I
As the war ended and America recovered, sports writer Sol Metzger ruminated over the impact of the draft on Utah sports. When soldiers returned home, the Chronicle was ready to tell their stories.
1929-1933: The Great Depression
As The Great Depression wore on the headlines, the Chronicle took on a different tone.
1939-1945: World War II
During World War II the Chronicle focused on relations with Japan and how changes were impacting students and courses of study at the University.
1970: A year of strikes
The new decade brought funky fresh fonts to The Daily Utah Chronicle’s print editions, as well as plenty of political unrest. Crowds gathered as U students protested the war and ROTC. The ASUU president announced a memorial service for the slain Kent State students.
1988: In the aftermath of Chernobyl, the U opens radioactive waste plant
There was controversy on campus as the U looked for locations for a radioactive waste plant on campus. The Chronicle looked into the questions being asked and the safety issues involved.
Sept. 12, 2001: Terrorist attacks in NYC
Newspapers around the globe reacted to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Chronicle was among them, calling the day a "defining moment" of the generation.
February 2002: The Salt Lake City Olympics
In 2002, the Chronicle became the Olympic Record as the games took over the campus and became home to the Olympic village. The special edition, published in both English and French, gave information to its temporary international audience.
November 2008: Barack Obama is the first black president
Like the rest of the nation, the University of Utah was watching the 2008 election closely.
“Although a majority of those in attendance sported Obama T-shirts and pins, not everyone was supporting the Democratic candidate. ‘I think Obama will win by a landslide,’ said Long Le, a junior in biochemistry. ‘But everyone voted for Obama and I wanted to be different so I voted for McCain.’”
October 2017 and 2018: Two tragedies, one year apart
A shadow was cast over campus in October 2017 with the murder of ChenWei Guo. It fell again a year later with the murder of Lauren McCluskey. The Chronicle not only covered the facts of the tragedies as they unfolded, but also the impacts on campus, and how they transformed the community.
March 2020: The U closes down due to COVID-19 pandemic
The university was in uncharted waters as a global pandemic changed everything about life as we know it. The Chronicle was there to update students about schedules, safety measures and to provide a sense of community when we were all having to stay at least six feet away from each other.
