The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) has made the decision to cease the publication and all other operations of the Interrobang newspaper, effective April 4.

Following budget reassessment in the wake of the international student cap, leadership within the FSU have opted to reallocate funds from the newspaper to other areas of the student union. Unlike other student newspapers, Interrobang is funded directly through the FSU’s base budget, without its own levy or independent budget. Any changes to the newspaper’s budget are therefore considered “operational,” and are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and FSU executives.

“The decision to discontinue the Interrobang newspaper was not made lightly and resulted from various factors,” said FSU President Siddharth Singh. “We carefully considered several elements, including Meta's response to Canadian government legislation, the reality that many student unions across Canada either do not have a newspaper or charge a separate fee for one, and most importantly, the need to adapt to the changing preferences of our student community.”

Interrobang, along with every other news outlet across Canada, has been barred from accessing its Meta-owned social media accounts over the past year and a half, due to an ongoing dispute between the tech giant and the Canadian government.

Interrobang is a five-time Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) award winner, finishing in the top three of the General Excellence: College & University category for the past five consecutive years. Interrobang also finished third for Best in Show at the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards back in 2004, where it was the only Canadian newspaper in competition against a pool of US-based publications.

The FSU’s campus newspaper was first established in the late 1960s, when it was originally known as The Dam. In 1973, it was renamed Interrobang, and its legacy began to grow from there.

“I understand how disappointing this news is for both students and alumni,” Singh said. “The Interrobang has been one of the oldest and most cherished services offered by the Fanshawe Student Union, and its absence will be deeply felt. However, we believe this evolution is necessary. The landscape of communication has changed significantly over the past two decades, and we must adapt to better meet the current needs of our students.”

Interrobang has consistently printed papers in some capacity for over 50 years, even continuing to publish on a decreased print schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has undergone multiple rebrands, propelled the careers of countless journalists, and kept students informed of campus news for decades.

“To those affected by this change, I want to assure you that this is not merely a cost-cutting measure,” Singh said. “We have taken into account many factors, including extensive observations over the past year and input from student leadership. Our intention is to redirect our hours and resources toward more engaging ways to update students and gather their feedback. We are still brainstorming how this will take shape, so it’s too early to provide specific details. Please know that this decision was made with the long-term best interests of the student body in mind.”

The Interrobang will continue to operate as normal until its final issue on April 4. At that time, all print and digital operations will stop.