Made you look. Clever, no? I am sure you are dying to know why I have put strange hieroglyphics at the top of your everyday student newspaper. Well, let me tell you…
For those who may not know, today’s headline (which is in Greek, if you’re curious) reads “Aletheuontes de en Agape”, or “Speaking the truth in Love”. This particular phrase (you may already know this) happens to be our university motto. It comes from the letter to the Ephesians, the tenth book of the New Testament. The quote which we use as our university motto refers to the need to “speak the truth in love” as we battle against “every wind of doctrine, […] the trickery of men, [and] the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” (New King James Version.)
I find this expression particularly fitting in a university setting. Surely it is here that we are meant to seek further knowledge and understanding of the world in which we live, that we might build better lives for ourselves and for others? And furthermore, should this not be a place of open discussion, where we can “speak the truth in love” so that we might avoid “the trickery of men” (and women too: trickery, I am certain, does not carry a gender bias)?
I know that my answer to these questions is an emphatic yes. That being said, it has been my intent this year to create a free and open forum within The Quill for all topics related to students and university life. (Ah, you say, finally she gets to the point. Yes, yes, but this would not be an interesting article without the cool headline, and if I had solely printed the headline without explanation, that would have been rather confusing, wouldn’t it…) This year, I believe we have made signifi cant strides in working towards becoming BU’s premier source of campus and local news: we went back to weekly issues, we launched our new website in November, and we expanded our staff to a dozen (amazing, hard-working) people.
This year, for me, has been incredible. I stepped into this position in August not at all sure how the next nine months would go, knowing from my previous work as Assistant Editor-in-Chief that the work came in large quantities and never stopped.
Within the fi rst few weeks, our wonderful staff of reporters had completely blown me away with their enthusiasm and diligence. They have not ceased to work their hardest to fill the paper every week, and their writing has been excellent. Even when the website started up in November, they stepped up to the plate to make sure there would be enough content online on a regular basis. They have tackled hard issues and tight deadlines while balancing schoolwork and the rest of their lives, and we would not have a paper without them. Thanks, guys. You seriously rock. And once it’s on the front page of The Quill, you know it must be true.
Naturally, the year has not been all sunshine and bunnies. (Perhaps this is true on many levels, as it is currently still snowing as I look out the office window.) Our biggest mistake was the first article we published about the BUSU election mishaps, where we truly and honestly did not get the information we needed. This is where you, my dear readers, come in. You have shown time and time again that not only are you reading the content we work hard to give you, but you care that we are accurate and fair, and you hold us to very high standards. We received several letters this year calling us to account for pieces we had published, and this continually reminded us of the responsibility we bear towards the BU population. Thank you for not letting us slack off: we are here for your benefit, and you have never let us forget it.
It has been a pleasure to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of The Quill this year. I have learned many a lesson about leadership, responsibility, and humility. In my opinion, this position exemplifies in many ways the necessity of “speaking the truth in love”, and I hope I have succeeded in that in some small way. Thank you for your readership this year, and I hope you will pick up the next issue of The Quill in September. In the meantime, I have talked enough: turn the page and read what we have for you today.
Republished from The Quill print edition, Volume 103, Issue 28, April 9, 2013.