Over the last 70 years, the XPress newspaper has evolved into an archive for students to uncover past news and latest news of Xavier College Preparatory. What began as a few pages of stories portraying updates on the dress code and the best restaurants in town has become a multi-sectional paper, a paper that has inspired student journalists then and now.
XPress has been mentored by many advisers since its formation in 1943. Brian Mostoller, XPress’s current advisor, has held his position since 2020. “I was excited to guide an online newspaper because it was something different for me,” he said.
Mostoller also serves as an English I teacher where he inspires students to push past their bounds of writing.
Over the past few years Mostoller has entered the XPress into evaluations and competitions conducted by the National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association,the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association, and School Newspapers Online, which is often referred to as SNO.
Over the past few decades, the paper has won a number of awards from these four organizations including a string of SNO Distinguished Site awards.
Lisa Zuba, director of institutional advancement, has worked with The Gator Byte, Xavier’s newsletter, for two years and has worked at Xavier for seven years. “Since I’ve been here XPress has changed every year. It’s cleaner and easier to read. Both the layout and the writing are great,” she said.
Articles that date back to 1943 can be found in the archives of Xavier in the Advancement office. These articles uncover the vast differences between lifestyles in the past contrasted with the present. One can find humorous jokes interspersed with writings about how to find a “dreamboat Brophy boy.”
An article written by alumna Mandi Matz ‘91 in October of 1990 described Xavier pep rallies that were just as lively and exciting as nowadays, “At a Xavier rally, we shout and cheer. We are ourselves. The craziness is virtually uninhibited,” she explained.
Another article published in 1989 shows how the XPress used to have a section called “Clublicity” discussing new clubs at Xavier as well as how to join.
As the current editors are nearing the end of their Xavier journey, the future of the XPress, while unknown, lies in the hands of new writers.
As incoming sophomores learn the ropes of journalism and how a newspaper operates, writers are formed and new inspirations are made.
Maria Murphy-Fontes ‘80, Xavier’s alumnae director, has worked at Xavier for 16 years. “My take for the XPress,” she said, “would be to do more with alums or to interview more alums.”
Mostoller believes that as the senior writers leave Xavier and go on to larger accomplishments, they will also help shape the future of journalism outside of XPress. “I think what our country needs most right now is journalism,” he said.
