I find the start of new semesters Dickensian: the best of times, the worst of times.

The best of it is the fresh start, the reuniting of old friends and the promise of new ones, classes that excite and professors who inspire.

The list of potential “worsts” can be a long one. Anxiety, finances, illness, rigorous course loads, balancing work and school and, if you’re lucky, a personal life … We are all waging our own difficult battles, and I am so proud of anyone and everyone who is defying odds to be here this semester, in any way, shape or form.

And I am certainly not alone. At The Daily Evergreen, every reporter and editor truly cares about their fellow students. We risk daily dissent and criticism because we believe what we do in Student Media services WSU students in a way no other resource can. We are devoted to covering stories and addressing issues important to the student body and our collegiate community.

Last semester, we covered the protests against and rallies for Planned Parenthood following its arson in September. We continued our annual tradition of a Mental Health Series. We explored both the taboo and the traditional in our Sex Edition.

This semester, I am chomping at the bit to build on our history of award-winning and specialized coverage in the form of special editions and series, and to focus editorial energy on unflinching sexual assault coverage, unwavering support of and interest in diversity issues on campus, and unapologetic nosiness about the things WSU students want to read in their news.

My door is always open to anyone with ideas and potential stories. It is also open if a reader or subject in our paper feels they are not being justly represented; it is my job and my express privilege to ensure accuracy of information and integrity of coverage. The Daily Evergreen prides itself on being the voice of the student body; my staff goes to class and sporting events and parents’ weekends with you. We have as much a say in what goes in this paper as you do.

And we know students want a say in their media. The nation saw this at the University of Missouri last fall. We see it on our campus during protests about free speech and funerals for ignorance. Student media is the bridge between the goings-on that students care about and those issues’ conveyance into their media.

For this reason, the continuance of Student Media is vital. This spring, there will be a Student Media referendum proposed to the student body. With enough “yes” votes, our student paper will join the ranks of the vast majority of collegiate papers across the country and secure much-needed funding via a few dollars in students’ fees.

Times are changing for media, but I’m proud to say The Daily Evergreen is not only changing with it, but is also ahead of the curve. We have several departments devoted to diverse media production – with those departments we are able to manage our website, social media and our app, create foreign language podcasts, produce videos and put out a wonderful piece of WSU history each year in the form of a yearbook. I am eager to see this referendum pass and secure a healthy future for Student Media.

I am ready to take on what lies ahead in the news and for The Daily Evergreen. My writers and editors are ready. I hope you are ready, too.

Here’s to an amazing semester for each and every Coug. May it be all the best.

Hannah Street is a senior English major from Olympia. She can be contacted at 335-3194 or by [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of The Office of Student Media.