Varsity

Varsity, a term originally derived from university, may refer to:

In geography:

In sports:

Varsity (Cape Town)

Varsity is the official student newspaper of the University of Cape Town (UCT). In 1942, the first edition of Varsity went to print.

History

The paper was founded as a result of the burgeoning cultural tensions on campus between Afrikaans and English students. The student representative council (SRC) sought to control these tensions by uniting the English student newspaper UCTattle and the Afrikaans medium publication Die Spantou. The SRC aimed to lessen the widening gap in political opinion advocated by each of these mouthpieces by launching a bilingual student newspaper.

A storm of controversy met the decision to abolish the original papers. The first Varsity constitution even had a clause forbidding comment on politics at UCT. The SRC was firm that "racial friction and political bitterness must be eliminated". The SRC took Varsity Newspaper firmly under its wing, with much indignation from the student body. The first editor, NC Gracie, chose the name claiming UCT had the right to the name "being the oldest [university] with the most inspiring record and the greatest tradition of tolerance and unity".

Varsity (rowing regatta)

The Varsity is a rowing regatta on the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal in Houten, Netherlands each Spring. The Varsity is the oldest and most prestigious student rowing regatta in the Netherlands.

The Varsity is one of the few student-only rowing races and has a fever-pitch rivalry. Traditional elements are combined with new technology and rowing philosophy. While rowing crews defend the honour of the club on the water, spectators on the levee are traditionally brawling with equal fanaticism.

Open for all traditional race rowing classes like the 4+, 4-, 2-, Skiff. Two races in traditional clinker-built boats (overnaads). These traditional boats are often rowed by rowers who cannot participate in the normal races.

The main event is the Oude Vier (Varsity Four, literally 'Old Four') which is rowed in a 4+. The best rowers of all student rowing clubs participate in this event.

Most of the traditions in student rowing in the Netherlands evolve from the Varsity. A common toast within clubs is: "[May the club] win the Varsity!" Clubs which have not won the Varsity for a long time even write songs about it.