Here Goes a New Year

BY SHANNON KELLY
Graphic Editor in Chief

We’re trying something new at the Graphic. Actually we’re trying a lot of new things, but blogging is one that we hope will open the newsroom doors a little wider to students, faculty and staff. Bear with me while I adjust to this new forum and begin updating and changing this blog (I’m thinking “Editor In Chief Blog” is a pretty boring title and a lack of links and photos makes this unbearably dry). But for now — a quick briefing.

The Graphic staff started last Sunday and worked non-stop, with only half of our staff and few sources on campus, to get the paper out on the first day of school.

While production was in full swing, we were also holding meetings with SGA, SPB and President Andrew K. Benton (and many administrators). At the same time, we were conducting training sessions for our freshmen and new staff members (look for their bylines in this first issue!)

We were busy, but it was worth it (although I think my staff averaged six hours of sleep for the entire week). It’s going to be a great semester for the Graphic and we’re doing everything we can to make this newspaper an outlet for everyone on campus.
On that note, our meetings with SGA and administrators were extremely encouraging (and I’ll update this site with more detailed blogs concerning both discussions).

President Benton offered his continued support, with many chief administrators by his side, and vowed to be as available as possible to the Graphic. His administrators agreed to do the same and each spoke to our editorial board (all of our sections editors and their assistants) in order to let us know what we can do better and what they can do better for us.

I’m looking forward to future meetings and a continued discussion with the administration about how we can work together to serve Pepperdine to the best of our abilities. I’m encouraged and grateful by President Benton’s support and by his administration’s input as well.

SGA and SPB were wonderful when we met with them last week. We gathered in the newsroom for lunch and sat down for an informal discussion about how the Graphic can work together with student leaders to keep everyone on campus informed and involved. I think we’ll have a strong working relationship this semester, which I think will benefit the newspaper, their groups and the entire Pepperdine community.

Please feel free to use this blog to tell us what you want to see in the paper, what you don’t want to see in the paper and what we can do better.

If you don’t want to comment on the blog, call me and we’ll talk. My cell phone number is (310) 283-6434 and my office extension is x4314. Or just drop by. The newsroom is open and so is my office door (we’re in the CCB next to Public Safety).
Good luck to you all on your first day of school and have a wonderful year!

All my best,
Shannon Kelly
Editor in Chief