{{Short description|Student newspaper for the University of Leeds}} {{About|the student newspaper|the TV series|The Gryphon (TV series)|other uses|Gryphon (disambiguation)|}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use British English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox newspaper | school = University of Leeds | logo = | logo_alt = | image = The Gryphon front page (2019).png | image_alt = | caption = Front page on 15 November 2019 | type = Bi-weekly{{Ambiguous|reason=Every two weeks or twice every week?|date=August 2025}} Newspaper | format = Compact | owner = Leeds University Union | editor = Gabriel Morrissey-Limb | founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1946|10|30}} | headquarters = Leeds University Union<br/>Leeds LS2 9JZ | publishing_country = United Kingdom | ISSN = 2057-1038 | website = {{URL|https://www.thegryphon.co.uk}} }}
'''''The Gryphon''''' is the student newspaper of the University of Leeds. It is published monthly during term time and its editor, the newspaper's only paid position, is elected annually by Leeds University Union members. The articles are written by students and are largely about local and university issues.
''The Gryphon'' was founded in 1946 as ''Union News'', before merging with Leeds Polytechnic Students Union's ''Pact'' in 1970 to become ''Leeds Student''. In 2005, Leeds Metropolitan University students voted to disaffiliate from the newspaper, citing under-representation. ''Leeds Student'' was renamed ''The Gryphon'' in 2014 in a return to the name used by an earlier University of Leeds student publication.
The editorship became a full-time, paid sabbatical position in 1972 after a campaign led by the then editor, Paul Vallely, who went on to become the first sabbatical editor. Notable previous editors also include Paul Dacre, Jay Rayner and Nicholas Witchell.
==History== A Leeds student publication titled ''The Gryphon'' was originally established in 1897 as "The Journal of the Yorkshire College".<ref>{{cite web |date=1 December 1987 |title=The Gryphon, volume 1 issue 1 |url=http://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/19950/1/LUA-PUB-002-GRY-1_000.pdf |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=University of Leeds Digital Library}}</ref> ''The Gryphon'' ceased printing in 1963.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gryphon: Third Series, Spring 1961 |url=http://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/5342/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=University of Leeds Digital Library |year=1961 |quote=Announcement of end of Gryphon in 1963.}}</ref>
''Union News'' was established as the official newspaper of Leeds University Union in 1946.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 October 1946 |title=Union News, volume 1 issue 1 |url=http://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/5636/1/LUA-PUB-002-UN-1_000.pdf |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=University of Leeds Digital Library}}</ref>
In 1970 the students unions of Leeds University and the then Leeds Polytechnic voted to amalgamate their newspapers into a single publication entitled ''Leeds Student''. In its first year of existence (1970–71) and again two years later (1972–73) the paper was voted Student Newspaper of the Year in the Student Media Awards.<ref name=":1" />
The paper has subsequently been awarded the accolade of Publication of the Year in the ''Guardian'' Student Media Awards in 1998,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/may/22/highereducation.uk1 |title=Take a risk . . . |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 May 2001 |accessdate=8 March 2016}}</ref> 1999<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/oct/22/johncarvel |title=Leeds wins Guardian student newspaper award |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 October 1999 |accessdate=8 March 2016}}</ref> and 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2009/nov/26/guardian-student-media-awards-winners |title=Guardian Student Media Awards, 2009: Winners |newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 November 2009 |accessdate=8 March 2016}}</ref>
The ''Leeds Student'' was also the winner of the Best Student Newspaper award in the inaugural National Student Journalism Awards in 1999 organised by the National Union of Students and ''The Independent'' newspaper.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/media-national-student-journalism-awards-1126459.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/media-national-student-journalism-awards-1126459.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Media: National Student Journalism Awards |newspaper=The Independent |date=16 November 1999 |accessdate=8 March 2016}}</ref>
===Leeds Metropolitan University Students Union's dissociation=== In December 2005, Leeds Metropolitan University Students Union (LMUSU) members chose via ballot to dissociate from the paper. In the past, this had been a joint venture between the two universities, but after continued complaints of a Leeds University centred perspective, a referendum was called to decide whether LMUSU should retain its link with the paper and continue paying a small proportion toward the paper's expenses. Members voted to dissolve the link, and henceforth the paper is a solely Leeds University Union maintained enterprise.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
===iPad app=== In 2012 the ''Leeds Student'' newspaper became the first student newspaper in the UK to launch an iPad edition. The app was built by the paper's 2011/12 Editor Elizabeth Edmonds and 2011/12 Digital Editor Jack Dearlove using QuarkXpress 9's app building tools. The app delivers a digitally remastered version of highlights from each week's paper through Apple's Newsstand.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sherriff|first=Lucy|title=Leeds University Student Paper First To Launch iPad App|date=28 February 2012 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/28/leeds-university-student-paper-first-to-launch-ipad-app_n_1306346.html|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=6 June 2012}}</ref>
===Name change=== In 2014 ''Leeds Student'' was renamed back to ''The Gryphon'' under elected editor Jasmine Andersson.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Palmer|first=Bob|date=15 September 2014|title=What even is a Gryphon anyway?|url=https://thetab.com/uk/leeds/2014/09/15/griffin-doubt-leeds-student-to-change-name-11058|access-date=25 August 2020|website=The Tab}}</ref>
===Closure threat=== In 2014 a funding issue almost led to the closure of the paper due to a dispute with the students union about advertising but closure was averted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/funding-shortfall-forces-leeds-student-cease-printing |title=Funding shortfall forces Leeds Student to cease printing |newspaper=Press Gazette |date=21 March 2014}}</ref>
==Controversy== ''Leeds Student'' has stirred debate over a variety of articles. These range from a full-page interview with BNP leader Nick Griffin, in which a remark that homosexuals should be kept in the closet and the door behind them "kept firmly shut" (as well as other, race-based comments) caused great offence.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}
In April 2010 ''Leeds Student'' again found itself at the centre of racial controversy after an issue dated 30 April was removed from circulation by Leeds University Union representatives. The issue in question featured a comment by Palestinian journalist Sameh Habeeb regarding beliefs in a pro-Israeli bias in the media. Following alleged complaints from Jewish students, the newspaper was removed by LUU executives, leading to accusations of censorship of the paper, which had previously been treated as an independent entity within LUU. After an attempted campaign to force a motion of no confidence in the leadership of Communications and Internal Affairs Officer Jak Codd, who was responsible for the anti-Semitism allegations, Codd resigned from his post, citing racial tensions within the union.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}
===Frank Ellis===<!-- This section is linked from British National Party --> In February/March 2006, the paper published an interview by Matt Kennard, a ''Leeds Student'' journalist, with Dr Frank Ellis, a controversial professor of Russian and Slavonic Studies who has expressed his support for racial differences in average intelligence. Dr Ellis's comments were widely condemned.<ref name=Suspension>{{cite news |title=University suspends lecturer in racism row who praised BNP|first=Matthew|last=Taylor|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 March 2006|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/mar/24/raceineducation.highereducation}}</ref><ref name=Times>{{cite news|work=The Times|date=24 March 2006|title=Lecturer is suspended for 'racist' IQ claims|first=Tony |last=Halpin|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/news/article694940.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727194554/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/news/article694940.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 July 2011}}</ref> A campaign was launched by Hanif Leylabi, President of the LUU branch of Unite Against Fascism, which called upon the university to sack Ellis. The story received coverage in ''The Observer'', ''The Daily Telegraph'', ''The Independent'', ''Times Higher Education'' and various other national newspapers and radio stations as well as national and local television services. A statement was released by Leeds University Union calling for his dismissal. Leeds University condemned Ellis' views as "abhorrent".<ref name=Suspension/>
Ellis was subsequently suspended by the Vice-Chancellor, Michael Arthur, pending disciplinary proceedings.<ref name=Suspension/> The university issued a media release stating that it was investigating an alleged breach of its diversity policy. It also said Ellis's views were wholly at odds with the university's values, he had jeopardised the university's obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and that he had not apologised for his remarks.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4838498.stm | work=BBC News | title=Racism row lecturer is suspended | date=23 March 2006 | access-date=7 May 2010}}</ref> Dr Ellis took early retirement in June 2006, pre-empting the outcome of the disciplinary action.<ref name=Retirement>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2006/jul/12/highereducation.race|title=Lecturer at centre of race row takes early retirement|first=Alexandra |last=Smith|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 July 2006}}</ref>
==Notable editors== Former editors of ''The Gryphon'' and its predecessors include: * Paul Dacre (1968–69), editor of the ''Daily Mail''<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilby |first=Peter |date=2 January 2014 |title=Paul Dacre of the Daily Mail: The man who hates liberal Britain |newspaper=New Statesman |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/media/2013/12/man-who-hates-liberal-britain |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> * Jay Rayner (1987–88), journalist and food critic for ''The Observer''<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Catherine |date=2 June 2013 |title=The Big Interview: Jay Rayner |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/books/the-big-interview-jay-rayner-1-5716032 |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> * Paul Vallely (1972–73), author, correspondent for ''The Times'', and columnist for ''The Independent''<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Peter |date=30 July 2009 |title=Tertiary Sector, Binary Divide: National policy and local experiences of higher education in the 1960s and 1970s |url=http://www.henry-moore.org/docs/microsoft_word__p_cunningham_pdf_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308230434/http://www.henry-moore.org/docs/microsoft_word__p_cunningham_pdf_0.pdf |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-format= |website=Henry Moore Foundation}}</ref> * Nicholas Witchell (1974–75), journalist for BBC News<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/nicholas-witchell-more-touchy-than-feely-308574.html/speaker |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/nicholas-witchell-more-touchy-than-feely-308574.html/speaker |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Nicholas Witchell:More touchy than feely |newspaper=The Independent |date=27 August 2005}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{University of Leeds}} {{Student newspapers in the United Kingdom}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gryphon}} Category:Clubs and societies of the University of Leeds Category:Free newspapers Category:Leeds Beckett University Category:Mass media in Leeds Category:Newspapers established in 1970 Category:Newspapers published in Yorkshire Category:Student newspapers published in the United Kingdom Category:Weekly newspapers published in the United Kingdom