By John Ostapowicz / The Jambar
Jan. 14 marked a milestone anniversary for The Jambar, as the publication turned 94-years-old.
From crimes to presidential visits, The Jambar has documented hundreds of historic moments that occurred on and around campus.
Founded by Burke Lyden in 1931, the first edition of The Jambar was produced on a mimeograph machine — a duplicating machine using ink — and was sold for 2 cents.
Almost a century ago, former Youngstown College student Don Boylan purchased the first copy of The Jambar.
At the start of World War II, The Jambar was essential in documenting the war’s effect on Youngstown College students. In 1942, spring break was canceled and the college’s football program was temporarily suspended in 1943.
Despite the ongoing war, the Youngstown College Jambar was awarded First Class Honors by the Associated Collegiate Press Critical Service, which marked the publication’s first award.
When World War II ended in Europe, The Jambar announced the school colors for Youngstown College changed from red and gold to red and white — a change that still stands today.
“It’s hard to accept a change in college traditions, but this change was required because of the difficulty that is always incurred when gold has to be put into print,” The Jambar stated in 1945.
The Jambar also documented the university’s name changes. Youngstown College became Youngstown University on Sept. 1, 1955 and in 1967, the Ohio State Senate unanimously passed a bill that transformed Youngstown University into Youngstown State University.
The Jambar also reported on YSU’s enrollment increase, which reached a record number in 1976 with 15,898 enrolled students.
Off campus, The Jambar reported on the Kent State University massacre in May 1970, where four students were killed because of an altercation between the Ohio National Guardsmen and police.
The Jambar also documented several stories involving YSU’s Greek Life. YSU’s Beta Lambda chapter of Beta Sigma Omicron merged with Zeta Tau Alpha, marking the designation of the Zeta Gamma chapter in 1964.
In a span of nine years, The Jambar also reported on a series of fraternity house fires. In 1971, Sigma Alpha Mu’s fraternity house caught fire, while Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s house on Pennsylvania Avenue experienced over $75,000 in damages from a grease fire.
In 1986, The Jambar reported the YSU football program hired Jim Tressel to lead the program, after the departure of former Head Coach Bill Narduzzi.
The Jambar followed Tressel closely, from his four football championships to his departure to The Ohio State University.
Outside of football, the publication also followed Tressel and his wife Ellen’s numerous contributions to YSU.
In 2003, the Tressels donated $125,000 to construct a new student recreation center — Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center — and recently made donations to construct a new student center.
Former President George W. Bush visited YSU on May 27, 2004 to an invitation-only crowd of 150 people. The Jambar was in attendance as the publication received a statement from Bush regarding community health clinics during his speech.
“Community health centers are the safety net that make sure our citizens are getting the care they need,” Bush said.
20 years later, The Jambar reported on the appointment of YSU President Bill Johnson as the university’s 10th president, alongside a fire in Ward Beecher Hall, which affected the planetarium.
Next year, The Jambar will celebrate 95 years as the student voice of YSU.
*Editor’s note – All historical dates and information were gathered through William F. Maag Jr. Library Jambar Newspaper Archives.
