Founded in 1954 by the first class of undergraduate students at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), The Highlander came into being to give students a voice on the brand-new campus. The idea sparked when the university officially opened its doors for classes, and the students realized they needed a way to share news, opinions, and records of events independent of the faculty and administration. They launched the paper to serve as the "historian" of the campus from its very first days. Today, the publication is owned by the students of UCR, operating as an editorially independent organization funded by student fees. Today, The Highlander is run by a dedicated staff of student journalists and editors and is mainly focused on campus news, student government politics, UCR sports, and arts and entertainment. They are based in Riverside, California, and serve as the primary source of information for the university community. One interesting fact: A unique fact about The Highlander is its connection to the university's Scottish theme. When the college was founded, the surrounding Box Springs Mountains reminded the founders of the Highlands in Scotland. Because of this, the university adopted a Scottish theme (including their mascot, Scotty the Bear), and the newspaper was named The Highlander to match this unique campus identity.