Monthly Archives: March 2013

Read all about it! Varsity News is now available on line!

Perhaps one of the things that I have been most looking forward to is seeing past issues of the University of Detroit student newspaper “Varsity News” on line. You can now see from the comfort of you own home, every available issue from the very beginning, Vol.1, No. 1, dated January 30, 1918 to April 4, 2012. Check out what made the news on campus from the world events of World War I to the results of a university sporting...

Off to the Races! International Intercollegiate Turtle Derby

There are races like the Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500 and Tour de France-but the University of Detroit had the excitement of the Turtle Derby! Turtle racing began at the University of Detroit tracks in 1935 under the auspices of  Delta Pi Kappa, journalism fraternity as a local event, but within a few years grew nationwide, drawing more than 200 entries. A shortage of materials suspended the annual classic during World War II, but it was revived by the fraternity in...

St. Patrick’s Day Tug-of-War, Irish vs. German with University of Detroit St. Francis Club

HOW IT ALL BEGAN (From the St. Francis Club Archives) Legend has it that the whole thing began with a tussle between one Adolph Schultz and one Patrick Mahoney in 1949. During the noon-day repast at the St. Francis Club they both reached for a napkin at the same time. It was St. Patrick’s Day and the feeling had been running pretty high anyway about the German invasion of the U. of D. eating club. Once a predominantly Irish organization,...

Arthur Godfrey: First U of D American of the Year 1952

For several years when U of D put on a Spring Carnival they would announce an “American of the Year”.  Arthur Godfrey, a radio and television entertainer, was the first person who was given such an honor in 1952 for his continuous fight for racial tolerance. Some of the other personalities who were given the title included Danny Thomas, Ed Sullivan and Perry Como. There are many stories to tell about the Spring Carnivals the University sponsored for many years,...

The Evolution of the Titans Mascot

The first name for the sports teams at the University of Detroit was “Tigers”. Don’t know why that name was chosen, but the football teams back in the early days of the university were called the Tigers and even the team cheers used the term. It was not until 1924 that the athletic board officially changed the team nick name to “Titans”.  It was felt that the old nickname “Tigers” was not exclusive enough and only created confusion with the...