Miscellany News staff reflects on mission

As one-fourth of the student population departs with May’s commencement, so too does their involvement with student life come to a close. While this transition offers the senior class a chance to reflect on their legacy, the Editorial Board of The Miscellany News is taking the opportunity to consider where this legacy will carry us in the 2005-2006 school year. The Miscellany News prides itself on a clear and consistent system of self-critique, and we hold ourselves responsible for providing our community with an accurate and thoughtful publication. In an effort to enhance communication between the newspaper and the campus community, the Editorial Board, in its own moment of transition, would like to present its ongoing goals for the paper as well as propose some new ideas to which we’d like the community to hold us accountable.

As the principal campus news source, our foremost goal is to provide Vassar with accurate and timely news. To us, the newspaper is a public contract—we strive to accurately report campus events and issues as well as provide a forum for discussion. We invite you to respond to our content, coverage, and commentary; it is our belief that every member of our community, from students to alums to staff members to invited speakers, should engage in this discussion.

The Miscellany News staff must often respond quickly and effectively to events on campus, in an effort to uphold our agreement to the community. Notably, this February, the events surrounding the employment of Associate Dean of the College Ed Pittman provoked much debate and action among the student body, reaching a height at the Town Meeting organized by Dean of the College J.J. Jackson. The Miscellany News had the resources and the opportunity to publish information that students called for during the evening’s open question period. In our Special Edition addressing these campus events, our mission was to collect and analyze the information in an effort to clarify misconceptions. We were also in the unique position to determine what information was printed as well as to open up the Special Edition to student voice by soliciting a variety of opinions in letter format.

First and foremost, we report on Vassar College news. Additionally, by reflecting on our peer schools and various events or trends occurring nationwide, we are able to form what we believe to be an accurate representation of the College. This goal is constantly referenced in an effort to ensure accuracy and a breadth of coverage. We also address the accomplishments and the events of individual students, campus organizations, and alumnae/i through our Features, Arts & Entertainment, and Sports sections.

While the bulk of the paper is devoted to covering campus and community events and issues, our Opinions section is a unique opportunity for the newspaper to provide a forum for discussion with all campus voices. The inclusion of the Staff Editorial is our venue to celebrate, comment, or critique campus events. The topic of this editorial is drawn from a debate among the Editorial Board and unsigned as it expresses the collective opinion of the editorial staff. In this discussion, we step out of our roles as objective reporters and engage with campus issues.

The Backpage is also a unique section of The Miscellany News. This section provides not only amusement, but also a different type of critique of the College than the Opinions section. The Backpage’s satirical approach is another form of candid observation.

At the end of each year, The Miscellany News declares all of its editorships vacant. This declaration is an opportunity to encourage more student involvement, to bring fresh voices to the paper, and to reflect on existing editorships in order to ensure that we are performing at the highest level of our ability. Additionally, we hold a weekly paper critique that is open to everyone in the Vassar community. It is a time to look at the newspaper and ask, “What did we do well?” but perhaps more importantly, “What can we do better?”

The Miscellany News is currently the only campus news source, and, as a staff, we take that role very seriously. We encourage you to write Letters to the Editor, attend paper critiques, and give us feedback in other more informal ways. Most importantly, we encourage you to hold us accountable for the goals laid out here and also in our mission statement. As a campus and a news source, we have entered into this public contract—may it serve both parties well.