As we approach spring break, the halfway point in the semester for students, faculty and staff alike, it seems apt to reflect on the progress so far of the Editorial Board and, more generally, the Campus Times itself.
Coming into this year’s iteration of the CT, we looked around at our new staff, took note of the many fresh, eager and excited faces and set our sights high. As a paper, we were ready to face the new year, and to rise to the challenge of writing, reporting and living the news.
While our circumstances may have been a bit different from those of the stereotypical journalist—apart from the ever-present need for coffee and the looming threat of deadlines—our still spirits swelled with optimism, persistence and the passion that drives all journalists at heart: the truth.
For the desire to get to the bottom of things, to dig deep into diverse issues, to separate fact from fiction and relay to the public the undying truth in all its glory sparks the fire of the journalist’s soul. The truth fuels journalists, pushes them to reach their goals and shines as the foundational motivation at the core of their craft.
Looking back, things may not appear as hyperbolic as they’ve been painted. Our lives are not accented by dramatic scores, nor is the scope of our work cinematic in breadth or content. But, undeniably, we have risen to the challenge of meeting this central creed of journalism, this essential tenet of the truth.
But we are not ones to neglect recognizing our own faults. At times, in trying to serve our community, we have scrambled to contribute to conversations about campus life. We regret to say that, in some cases, ideas have been exhausted, with old ones redressed and put in their place. The sad reality is that in our darkest hours, even universally agreed upon stances have sufficed for acceptable arguments. And for our sometimes misguided or squandered efforts, we hope to bounce back after break, bring a spark of life to the flickering candle of our creativity and return to the basics of hard-nosed, cutting-edge journalism that we have and continue to strive to achieve.
A certain film, whose soundtrack has often played throughout the CT’s office in times both jovial and trialing once commented on the ephemeral nature of life, with the title character saying: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Acknowledging that our time with the CT is dwindling, we hope to make the best of our future endeavors and become “ever better.” But the only way we can do that is with your input. Tell us how we’re doing; let us know what we’re doing right and what we can do better. Meliora.
