From the Editor’s Desk: Celebrating The Phoenix’s Win

Feb. 26 will mark Student Press Freedom Day, and it welcomes the perfect opportunity to remind readers of the work we do at The Phoenix, and why student journalism is so incredibly important to university ecosystems and the future of a free press. 

Public universities have a legal obligation to support students’ journalistic endeavours. This includes upholding their First Amendment right against censorship and view-point discrimination.

Because Loyola is a private university, the school doesn’t face the same legal obligations. However, they continue to support The Phoenix financially while allowing us to remain entirely editorially independent. For this, I’m forever grateful. 

This year, the Indiana Daily Student (IDS) — the student newspaper of the public Indiana University (IU) — was censored by their administration. The result was a rise in conversations regarding student press freedom, and an admirable effort by the Purdue Exponent at Purdue University — one of the only student newspapers nationally to own their own printing press — to print the IDS for free and distribute it across the IU campus.

The Phoenix operates in the background of life at Loyola. Each Wednesday, editions are quietly placed in print news stands across the Lake Shore and Water Tower Campuses, free for any passerby. Like clockwork, readers find updates to our social media and website every week. Many may take this for granted. 

This Student Press Freedom Day, I invite everyone reading this to imagine Loyola life without the university watchdogs. Student journalists at The Phoenix provide invaluable information about the spending habits of the university, students activities across campus and crime both at Loyola and across Rogers Park. 

We’re not loud — because that’s not the point. Rather, we’re watchful. In turn, we ask you to remain attentive. 

Each year, the staff of The Phoenix get their flowers at the Illinois College Press Association Conference, an event where college newspaper staff from across Illinois gather to attend panels and learn ways to improve coverage and better serve their community. At the end, it includes a competition spanning writing, photography and design. 

This year, my managing editor Julia Pentasuglio and I were invited to host a panel on our ICE Tracker, where we spoke with fellow student journalists hoping to begin similar initiatives at their own universities. 

After our panel, The Phoenix won 16 state-wide awards. Not only was it incredible to see so many members of my staff honored for their hard work, but it was exciting to see the creative work of other editors. It reminded me of the sheer love-of-the-game every student newspaper staff member universally seems to feel. 

To read a full list of the specific awards given to The Phoenix, turn to page 4. 

If you would like to support student journalism, pick up a copy of The Phoenix or read online each week. Additionally, consider making a donation on our website. Any money collected goes directly toward the initiatives of the publication. 

This week, read about dining hall worker negotiations in News, the newest Mumford & Sons album in Arts, the U.S. women’s hockey team in Sports and the politics of weight lifting in Opinion.