Letter from the Editor

42
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

When people talk about the future of journalism — especially print — it’s usually in somber, hushed whispers. After all, in a digital world where content on a seemingly infinite number of topics is available instantaneously (and often for free), the odds of survival for a poor weekly newspaper appear dubious at best.

And yet — though Google may list millions of hits within seconds for any given combination of words and a casual scroll through a Facebook news feed displays a multitude of different opinions and experiences — the need for trustworthy accounts of events and nuanced, fleshed-out arguments is still as strong as ever.

As a person and as a member of the Occidental community, you have a right to know what is happening in and around campus. As someone who has the power to make change, as someone who cares about their school, you have the ability to read about the thoughts, experiences, and opinions of your peers. And you, our reader, can count on the fact that whenever anything interesting is happening, the Weekly will be there, and that we will always be a presence in campus dialogue — regardless of whether we are offering our own opinions or providing a platform for the community.

I can unequivocally say, as someone who has worked at the organization for well over two years, that contributing to the Weekly is a privilege. I’ve been able to see the best and worst of the community and have experiences that I couldn’t have even imagined when I first stepped foot on campus. And, difficult or not, all of them have only proven to me time and time again how much the students, faculty, staff, alumni and locals care — about the college, Los Angeles and (perhaps most intensely) one another. After all, inextricably tied to pushing for progress is the belief that a person or institution is worth changing and the knowledge that we are all fundamentally capable of doing better.

And so, all I can say is thank you — thank you not only for supporting, reading and believing in a small, local publication, but for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Thank you for being a community of people who are unafraid to do and say things that matter and thank you for showing a young reporter what compassion and support really look like.

Lauren Rewers is a senior biology major and the editor-in-chief of The Occidental Weekly. You can reach her at rewers@oxy.edu or in her office hours every Tuesday from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Newcomb media suite.

Loading

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here