The student newspaper at Fort Hays State — The University Leader — published its last issue Thursday.

President Hammond says he isn’t surprised, pointing to several national daily newspapers that have shut down entirely, both print and online.

Hammond declined a request for the university to fund The Leader through the remainder of the school year.

Instead, a task force will design a multi-media model to meet the news and information needs of the campus community.  Fort Hays State also has student radio and television stations, KFHS.

Hammond says the new model will include academic links.  He expects it to be implemented this fall 2013 semester. 

For now, the Leader staff will continue to in an online-only format.

The “Western Normal Leader” was first published in 1908.

A Student Government Association decision in 2003 ended funding for the Reveille, the FHSU yearbook.