Letter from the Editor in Chief

Dear reader, 

I am so thankful that “The Wake” is finally, physically, back out in the world—and beyond grateful that this issue has made its way to you. 

I write to you with a new job title and the same expansive love for this publication. I write with hopes and dreams and impossibly large shoes to fill as Editor in Chief. And I write without the clearest of ideas about where to begin. 

So let’s begin at the beginning. 

Our publication was founded in “the wake” of 9/11, a phrase which inspired our name and still defines many aspects of our mission; we aim to provide an outlet for students’ voices and for reflections on the world around us. We make space for the lighthearted and humorous beside the serious and heavy. We watch; we listen; we respond. 

While we continue to live in the wake of 9/11, we are also pulled into an ever-increasing number of tragedies. In fact, it’s starting to feel less like a wake and more like a ceaseless undercurrent, a riptide pulling us out to sea. I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I feel like I am drowning in the world. 

So what is there to do? 

I propose that we do what we’ve always done. We must continue to watch and stand witness, even—and especially—when doing so is difficult. We must also continue to listen and uplift those whose voices have not been heard. I find that recognizing and making space for one another’s stories is a pillar of empathy. Those human connections are what hold us steady in times of struggle. And of course, we must respond. Whether through protest, political activism, acts of kindness or, yes, writing, we can weather this storm together and push for meaningful and lasting change. 

Is it idealistic to think that a student publication can do so much? Perhaps. But I believe that each of us holds the power of our own actions, and I hope that “The Wake” can harness some of that energy for good. Take a moment to watch and listen among these pages, and, if you’d like, let us know how you respond. 

With a full heart and a buzzing head, and, as always, with immense gratitude, 

Marley Richmond

Editor in Chief