TrevEchoes celebrates 80 years of publishing student news

By Alayna Simons

Editor-in-Chief

Howard Wall Jr. was a 15-year-old freshman during World War II when he launched the first one-page issue of the Trevecca student newspaper in 1944.

He was the first person in his family to go to college and was eager to make an impact on campus, said his son, Howard Wall III.

Eighty years later, the TrevEchoes, the official student newspaper on campus, is an award-winning publication with a staff of more than 10 students.  

A birthday party during homecoming weekend for the newspaper brought more than 40 alumni together to reminisce about their time working for the paper. 

“The 80th birthday party was so fun because I got to see a number of people whom I had known had been involved in the newspaper but some of whom I didn’t realize had been involved,” said Howard Wall III. “It was great to see copies of the newspaper over the years, and to see the fact that even though the appearance of the paper had changed and certainly improved, there’s nothing like seeing that name at the top of the front page ‘TrevEchoes.’ That was very gratifying to see.”

The newspaper has evolved since that first issue in November of 1944. The Department of Communication Studies launched a Multimedia Journalism major in 2008 that has included adding a website, social media accounts and earning more than 30 awards from the Tennessee Associated Press Media Editors. 

“The purpose [of TrevEchoes] is to be an official student news outlet, providing students with news and information they need to make decisions about their lives, their education, and the kinds of discussions we’re having on campus,” said JoEllen Werking Weedman, associate professor of communication studies. “We have a huge responsibility to make sure our community is informed so that we can have more productive and faithful discussions and debates.”

Werking Weedman is in her 17th year of overseeing the newspaper and said her own undergraduate journalism training has guided her philosophy for student journalism on campus. Her professor had a sign above his door that read, “Gossip is not more Christian than journalism.”

“My deep belief is that if students are talking about it while they’re walking to class and professors are talking about it in the hallways, then we ought to go ask on the record questions and report what people say,” said Werking Weedman. “That is a faithful vocation.”

Tyler Whetstone, an investigative reporter at Knoxville News Sentinel, graduated from Trevecca in 2014 as a journalism major. Whetstone wrote for the paper all four years of his college career but was the editor-in-chief during his junior and senior year.

“[Trevecca] expanded my ability to write with compassion, to take a justice-minded and biblically backed viewpoint, and to write about it in such a way as to push towards them for justice,” said Whetstone. “I give a lot of credit to the university. It was a place to make mistakes, and they gave the freedom and the space to be able to do that.”

Howard Wall III started working for TrevEchoes his freshman year as well, eventually becoming the editor-in-chief as a sophomore just like his father.

During his freshman year, he came into conflict with those around him who wanted to change the name of TrevEchoes, but he stood by his father’s legacy to keep the tradition. 

“I absolutely wanted to make sure that what he started continued on with a good run,” said Howard Wall III. “It inspired me to know that he had been a part of TrevEchoes, and his influence was a part of my interest in journalism.”

Now an attorney, Howard Wall III often looks back on his time on the paper and recalls both the fun that he had and the skills that he now credits to Trevecca.

“I think certainly some of the leadership skills that I developed at Trevecca were very meaningful,” said Howard Wall III. “I learned the importance of cooperation and collaboration as editor, and then in other roles that certainly helped me throughout my career.”

Werking Weedman said watching her students and alumni grow and succeed is what keeps her motivated.

“I am so proud of our student journalists. They see it as a privilege and are careful to guard that privilege and accept the responsibility that comes with it,” said Werking Weedman. “I think it is very rewarding to watch students go from next to no knowledge about how to do this, to being actual student leaders who run their own publication and to see the skills they gain, the confidence they gain. That’s super rewarding for me.”

The first issue of the TrevEchoes, along with many more past issues, have been archived for safe keeping.

Howard Wall III continues to find pride in what his father started and his time on the paper, and hopes that TrevEchoes will keep up the good work.

“My hope is that TrevEchoes will keep being that forum for students to be able to share their opinions and for there to be respectful disagreements at times, but a space for that kind of thing to flourish,” said Howard Wall III. “Ask questions, but also listen carefully and keep digging. Try to get to the facts that are there, and then really focus on the quality of writing.”