I’ll save you what took about a year and a half for me to get.
The Aquinian’s name comes from St. Thomas Aquinias. Don’t ask me why the founders of this newspaper went with the name. They just did.
Some of you may know me, and others won’t. I was the features editor last year, the one who wrote all the humour columns on deep topics like why dating a desk plant is better than having a girlfriend and how Brian Gallant looks like Batman villain Harvey Dent.
Now I run the place. Go figure.
But joking aside, what I like to do besides writing dumb jokes is write and edit quality journalism, something I plan to bring to every column inch of this newspaper. So don’t expect any humour columns on the front page – or any from me actually.
For returning students, the first thing you may notice about The Aquinian is our new design. This year we went with a more classic newspaper look.
We feel this new design complements our news, especially our front-page stories and produces a more professional look.
While I care about all four sections equally, I think a newspaper has a duty to deliver the news accurately and efficiently first. It’s in the name.
I work closely with the news editor, Jordan Gill, to ensure that every week you get the most up-to-date, compelling news we can deliver. It’s our top priority.
In all sections, The Aquinian wants to ask tough questions and publish impactful pictures that complement the stories.
I’m used to getting hate mail and criticism from readers who have problems when we publish stories they don’t like.
I want you to know I have both a thick skin and the ability to listen, think and grow. But The Aquinian will not be deterred in its fight to get real answers.
I have hired staff more than capable to bring you the sports, arts and feature stories that you’ll want to read and can learn from.
We want you to be connected to the world around you – from the university to the universal – to read a piece and learn a little more about who we are as humans beings and how we interact with one another.
One of my major goals for the year is to cut out fluff. We plan to do in-depth and investigative stories, but they’re still in the incubation phase. I think the readership of The Aquinian is intelligent. You want the facts and you want insight. I hope I never find myself printing stories I wouldn’t read myself.
What I will leave you with is what I wrote in my cover letter when applying for the features position in my second year.
I said a newspaper, if not managed properly, can be like the Great Wall of China, something that looks impressive but was easily climbed over and walked around.
The Aquinian won’t be like that. No one will step over us. We won’t go on and on.
Instead, we’ll stand tall.
