Brandon Van Meter

Hey, I’m the new editor of The Collegian. However, I’m not a new face to this newspaper.

Two and a half years ago, I was on staff designing ads. Back then, we didn’t have much of a name for ourselves. Through a dramatic redesign, I became the head of our brand new visual department. I’ve been at that post for two years until I received the ultimate promotion: running the whole damned thing. Oh, and I am the College Connoisseur.

In words, my Collegian career seems to be a flash in the pan. The time I’ve spent at my desk is only a fraction of my life, but it’s the gravity of the work I’ve produced that lends the weight. Many of the events on campus, from abortion protests to Division I success, I’ve seen through The Collegian. More importantly, I’ve worked with some of the greatest people I’ve met. Without the excellent staff members and their ambition to stay up for ungodly amounts of time, this paper would have fallen flat years ago.

In numbers, my former job included roughly 52 Collegian fronts and over 125 inside pages. Plus, I’ve been in charge of all those cut out photos on our front page. If I counted all the armpits I’ve stared at on my computer, my brain could implode. I could look back and dwell on everything that has happened, but eventually I start glancing to the future.

My job, as I see it, is to ensure we move forward as a newspaper. The editors before me have worked hard for integrity and journalistic excellence. We’ve heard the positives and all the negatives given to our publication. If you’re keeping score – don’t worry – we know about the typos.

Our staff is one of the strongest in years. As I write this column, they are hard at work putting this newspaper together. I’d like to take this space to thank them for everything they do. It would be impossible for this paper to run without their drive and perseverance.

To readers, thank you for picking up our newspaper. From students and faculty to residences of Brookings, we appreciate your readership.

I’m excited for the year to come. The staff and I are ready to produce another two semesters of quality newspapers.