Then-dean of law Walter Tarnopolsky struggles under the weight of textbooks in a 1970 Oyez cartoon by artist Arnie Fisk.Then-dean of law Walter Tarnopolsky struggles under the weight of textbooks in a 1970 Oyez cartoon by artist Arnie Fisk.

Historic law student newspaper returns under new banner

After a three-year hiatus, Windsor Law’s student newspaper Headnotes (formerly The Oyez) has been revived by law students and co-editors-in-chief Amanda Henderson-Jones and Anita Osmani. The shift to online learning inspired the pair to revive the student newspaper and deliver it in a new, digital format.

“As students, we've spent the past year learning how we can best adapt to the unique circumstances of online learning and with that, we’re given the chance to foster an online law student-life experience,” says Valerie Tan, the team’s director of media management.

According to Bridging the Law: Fifty Years of Windsor Law, the newspaper was originally launched in traditional print format during the spring of 1970 by student leaders who hoped it would showcase and build the reputation of the newest law school in the country. Today, the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building is undergoing significant renovations, and the students hope the digital newspaper will build a stronger sense of community among the student body.

“We couldn’t have done this without the excellent, dedicated work of our student contributors and with the help and support of the Windsor Law community,” says Henderson-Jones. “With there being so many changes to the law school experience amid the pandemic, we felt as though this was the best time to bring back Headnotes, a publication that has historically brought students together.”

Assistant dean for student services Francine Herlehy welcomes the renewed publication.

“For 48 years, the Oyez was an integral part of the student experience at Windsor Law,” she says. “Written by students, for students, it provides remarkable insight into the law school experience and the issues of the day from their vantage point.”

The Headnotes team has released two issues to date featuring articles on topics ranging from international news and sports to lifestyle articles on the Zoom law school experience. View the latest issue on the Headnotes website.

—Rachelle Prince

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