Dear readers,
Would you believe me if I told you the trees are starting to turn yellow? It thrilled me to see the forests’ yellow leaves shine like little gold coins. Shockingly, I can now wear sweaters in public. I appreciate the change. I’m sick of wearing t-shirts in October.
This issue covers plenty of pertinent news for our community. Please read Graci Vlattas’ coverage of how Sewanee is grappling with the concerns around cychlorphine, and we encourage you to visit Staff Writer Destiny Velasco-Izaguirre’s article on the TWC’s bluegrass musical “Bright Star”.
I end this letter on a serious note. The Cornell Seven gang-rape allegations have horrified many people across the world, including myself. But two moments of community have anchored me in this sea of disturbing news: the overwhelming support for plaintiff Jane Doe and how Cornell University’s student newspaper reported on this issue with clarity, accuracy and compassion. On Sept. 21, the Cornell Daily Sun published a list of the Chi Phi fraternity brothers accused of gang-raping Doe under the headline “Cornell Won’t, We Will.” During incredibly sensitive and heartbreaking cases such as these, student journalists were persistent in making a difference. We mustn’t forget Sun Editor-in-Chief Sophia Dasser’s words during an interview with The Cut: “At the end of the day, we settled on the fact that, as student journalists, our responsibility to the campus community is shining light on the opaque parts, on the dark corners of Cornell.”
YSR & EQB,
Chloe Wright
Editor-in-Chief
The Sewanee Purple