Collection Development and Strategies Department
The history of The Sentry, CU Denver’s student newspaper, predates the Auraria Campus and CU Denver’s 1973 designation as a university. The Sentry was established in 1964 (when it charmingly dubbed our campus “the Sorbonne of the Rockies”) and its early years were eventful ones. As the Vietnam War and cultural changes progressed during the 1960s, the student newspaper offered a snapshot of the debates, dissent, and emotions that defined campus life during one of the most turbulent chapters in recent American history.
This past spring, former Auraria Library student worker Caitlyn Zimmer digitized and published online historic CU Denver newspapers dating between 1964 and 1967 (viewable here), while also creating an online exhibit (viewable here) showcasing student perspectives on the Vietnam War.
A physical exhibit of early Sentry editions is also now on display alongside the Reading Room for Special and Digital Collections—located on the north side of the second floor of the Auraria Library. The library also has newspaper issues from MSU Denver and the Community College of Denver spanning a range of decades. Visitors can learn more about the library’s diverse special collections by visiting this page, and by making an appointment for consultation and viewing here.
