Recently celebrating its 100th anniversary, The Loyalist which, has transitioned into a completely student-run publication, originally started as a basic newsletter for Cubs in the late 1910s.
Sarah Gacina, an honors English teacher and ex-moderator for The Loyalist for six years, says, “The Loyalist has been an outlet for Loyola students to express their ideas and feelings, as well as unite diverse cultures.” Gacina witnessed six years of development and expresses the dedication of the editors and writers.
In the very beginning, the newspaper we now call The Loyalist was actually called The Cinder, likely a play on our Ignatian identity. Tyler Lancaster ‘10, Loyola’s archivist, says, “The Cinder lasted only about a year before bankruptcy; but ‘The Loyolan’ began printing in 1921, according to the 1926 yearbook. By 1930, it was termed ‘The Loyalist.’” According to an image of Vol. 1, No. 2 “The Cinder,” in the book “Loyola High School of Los Angeles: A Sesquicentennial History” by Kevin Starr, “The Cinder” cost 5¢, was foxed, and was in black and white.
Through the ages, The Loyalist grew and evolved. In the 1930s and 1940s, some important events covered were the Great Depression and World War II, in which the paper commented a lot about Loyola and its students’ efforts to help during such difficult times. As a Jesuit school, Loyola helped by keeping tuition affordable, offering jobs for students, and putting together charity drives. As for World War II, the Loyalist provided vital information on Loyola alumni and their military service overseas.
In the 1950s and 1960s, The Loyalist vastly improved by taking a more formal journalistic approach. Instead of announcements and unembellished news, it started incorporating features, opinions, and entertainment of the era. One key article from this time plays a game in which students guess the baby photos of certain teachers.
By the 1980s and 1990s, The Loyalist saw significant improvements in printing and layout, as photography and visual design began to play a larger and larger role in each article. Also around this time, The Loyalist expanded with more staff and an increase in student writers. We also began talking about on-campus events, student achievements, and social issues.
Today, our school newspaper still represents our mission by reflecting on the motto of “men for and with others.” The Loyalist provides students with an opportunity to express their voices and share their feelings. Its century-long lifetime spotlights not only the school’s evolution, but also the values of community, creativity, and dedication of Loyola Cubs. If you want to partake in the next century of excellence, just come to a contributor meeting and try it out!
