From Friday through Sunday each week, Ayano Elson, Creative Director of The College Voice, would build this newspaper. She transformed a ragtag collection of articles into a beautifully cohesive and sleek publication every weekend while simultaneously completing a Senior Dance Thesis and a major in Art History. She researched award-winning newspaper designs from around the world and constructed a visual language that provided continuity from issue to issue. For three years, the newspaper’s voice belonged to Ayano, and yet not a single one of her words was printed until her very last issue, in which she authored an editorial reading, “After three years at The College Voice, this marks my first and final article. Thanks! Bye!”
As Editor in Chief of the Voice, Meredith Boyle successfully ran a small, profitless company by coordinating and motivating its entire staff – no easy task, considering that we work long hours and offer no compensation outside of camaraderie and the occasional late night pizza, of which Meredith provided in plenty. Meredith is a role model for writers and editors; she is a formidable journalist, never sacrificing her morals for a story, and never sacrificing a story in the face of opposition.
Together, Meredith and Ayano worked to better The College Voice, and the improvements that they implemented were far greater than I would have believed only two people could be responsible for. I attribute this success to two qualities. First, they were both truly possessed by their jobs. They felt a sense of ownership for every page that they worked on: each column and header, and even the little dot at the end of each article. Secondly, each of them developed an understanding for what the other did. Meredith took the time to learn Ayano’s templates and style, and Ayano read Meredith’s articles and editorials, providing criticism and support.
Unfortunately, this level of devotion has not been consistent among our staff and writers. Everyone who is involved in the newspaper in any small way – whether as a photographer, writer, blogger or copyeditor – provides a building block that helps make the Voice whole, and for that, Melanie and I are indebted. But how many of our articles reflect the voice of a writer possessed by their story? How many students understand the power their words hold when published in a legitimate news publication, and the change and inspiration such words can stir? While there are more than a few diamonds in the rough, I think that it’s pretty clear that many articles come off as somewhat dispassionate.
Students at Connecticut College care about things. Some care about human rights, others care about the environment. Many care about sports, a whole lot care about arts and a few people even care about returning the travel mugs. The College Voice doesn’t belong to Mel or me. It belongs to all of you; it’s your voice. So write about what you care about, for the whole campus, trustees, our fifty subscribers and the entire interweb to read (yes, we’re working on our website). Our staff can edit all day and all night, but if an article lacks spirit, there’s not much we can do to fill that void, and readers notice. I don’t need to share the same passion as an author to want to read their article – I only need to know that the passion is there. So whether you’re writing to raise awareness, stir a revolution or beef up your resume, if you care about your story, it’s a story worth reading.
I care about this newspaper, and Melanie does too. We’ve downsized our staff in the hopes that fewer people with more responsibility can share our sense of ownership over this old rag and bring it back to the glory days. You don’t have to love this newspaper, but if you love something, write about it, and I swear by our late night pizza, we will love you.
