We, the 2023–24 Editorial Board members, are proud to present our first print edition of the academic year. Every year brings many exciting changes to The Sophian, but this year we are especially grateful for our new office in the Jacobson Center and the growth that this will foster within our organization. We are eager to continue our collaboration with the Journalism Concentration in order to promote a more robust practice of student journalism at Smith.
Being a student journalist requires immense hard work, commitment and resilience. Historically, The Sophian has received minimal institutional support for basic operating expenses compared to the newspapers of other small liberal arts colleges, many of which fund initiatives such as training, development and team-building, and some of which provide salaries to their staff. We see the new office as an important step in the right direction, and will continue advocating for institutional support of our organization and will look to the administration to actively acknowledge the value that student journalism brings to Smith and our community.
We are also excited to bear witness to the new legacy President Sarah Willie-LeBreton will create during her tenure. She has already made waves by announcing Mountain Day an unprecedented three weeks into the semester. Needless to say, she’s off to a bold start, and our expectations are steep. It is our hope that she will add supporting student journalism to her list of priorities. Just as The Sophian needs Smith College, Smith needs The Sophian. We enjoy a symbiotic relationship, and look forward to bolstering this relationship in the months and years ahead. At a time when misinformation is ubiquitous, the existence of ethical reporting, even at small publications like The Sophian, are vital to ensuring an open and honest social discourse and giving a voice to the students and faculty of Smith.
With gratitude,
Phoebe Rak, Editor-in-Chief
Isabel Birge, Managing Editor
