Its function is to provide the students and faculty of Radford University, as well as the residents of the surrounding city of Radford, with news pertaining to the university and surrounding community.

[citation needed] The Tartan was originally named The Grapurchat.

Its first issue was four pages, featured one picture, and detailed a cocktail party which had happened the week before.

The Tartan utilizes the RU Student Media's in-house advertising agency, SMADS, to gather and design advertisements which it uses as its main stream of revenue.

[citation needed] In March 2011, The Tartan launched a WordPress website to complement the print form of the publication.