Dear readers,
With our fifth issue coming out the week of Thanksgiving, it’s a time to be thankful. I’m grateful for lots of things this year, but as my time as editor nears its end, I’m especially glad I’ve been able to work for The Purple over the last three and a half years.
College is a place of learning, and I’ve learned the most by working alongside passionate, hard-working people. At Sewanee, I think we’re fortunate to have an abundance of intelligent, opinionated people. In a time of divisive rhetoric, where the political leeches into the personal, I hope we can still learn from each other even when we disagree.
As a journalist, of course, I most appreciate the people who question the world around them. I’m thankful for the work Luke Gair (C’21) did while looking into how the Sewanee Pledge will affect future study abroad. Check out Anna Mann’s (C’20) piece on how absentee ballots sometimes returned uncounted.
I also encourage you to read the great editorial piece by Colton Williams (C’21) on what the media can do in the age of “fake news.” I think it’s worth considering that while civility has its time and place, it’s not worth the loss of independent thought and insightful criticism. Don’t be afraid to disagree with someone, even a family member at Thanksgiving. Listen, but speak your mind.
EQB,
Fleming Smith ‘19