Either way, another summer has come to a close and we are back to the routine of fall semester. This time of year is always full of excitement across campus with new changes, new faces, and the prospect of a new academic year ahead of us.
One of the most exciting changes for me is that I am beginning my final year as Editor in Chief of The Slate for the next academic year. As EIC, I want to speak directly to our readers and outline my promises about what you can expect from our organization in the coming months.
In just 70 days, the next President of the United States will be elected. As we saw with the excitement this summer over the possible Harris-Shapiro ticket, Pennsylvania will continue to play a crucial role in the electoral process.
My staff and I will do our best to travel around and tell stories about how the next president will impact our campus community as the candidates campaign. Of course, we will continue to cover a wide range of events here on campus: the good, the bad and the ugly.
The past year has seen many major headlines, including a water pipe burst in Naugle Hall, a gas leak, a scooter fire in Seavers Hall and the subsequent school suspension, the provisional suspension of Theta Xi, and the arrest of a student.
These stories are not why my staff and I have spent countless hours bringing you this newspaper. Yes, they need to be told, but we don’t wake up every day waiting for bad news. We are here to gain experience as journalists and to report the news, whatever that may be.
Most importantly, I want to stress that my other roles as a Student Ambassador and Resident Assistant, as well as the personal relationships I’ve built across campus, have no bearing on the stories published in The Slate. I’ve been incredibly fortunate over the past three years to build relationships with individuals in marketing, dining, housing, admissions, and campus life, but news is news.
I will never refuse to publish a story because it might reflect poorly on an office or organization I work for. Wearing my Ambassador or ResLife hat does not mean I’m throwing away my metaphorical Slate hat.
I care deeply about this university and its continued success. Every time I take a group of prospective students and their families on a tour, I highlight all the great things SU has to offer. But loving this institution also means I challenge those in charge and call things out when they don’t meet the standards we should be meeting.
I see my role as an advocate for members of our student body who are not as well known as I am. I like to ask difficult questions and as long as I have The Slate as a platform, that’s exactly what I will do.
