Being a leader

Ever since I was elected Editor-in-Chief of The Stute, I’ve been at conflict with how I should be Editor-in-Chief. From my predecessor telling others that I should be more hands-off, to my old habits as Managing Editor of being incredibly hands-on and informal/jokey with the general body rearing their head, I have been hearing two different sides to being one thing: Editor-in-Chief.

As I wrote this editorial at 6:46 p.m. on Thursday night, I retreated to the corner of The Stute office, sitting in our old, decrepit couch and watching five members work on our remaining pages of the newspaper. I was hands-off. Granted, less than an hour ago I was finishing the news section of our paper, being a bit handsy again, but still, I let people work and sat there silent—no jokes or talking to fill space.

This is a daily struggle I have as Editor-in-Chief of The Stute, and I have no problem sharing that. I want to hear everyone’s opinions, yet I sometimes need to make a call and stick to it. I want to foster a lighthearted, welcoming environment, but when things need to get done they need to get done. I want to make The Stute the best publication it can, but I don’t want to forget that we are a student-run organization.

All of the internal strife that I have as Editor-in-Chief of The Stute gives me pause to reflect on what exactly being a leader means. Historically, the “best” leaders are ones who are focused not on personal relations, but goals. However, I think there is more to being a leader than pure accomplishments (which is probably I won’t be holding public office anytime soon).

In fact, as sappy as it sounds, I think having a good time while creating the newspaper each week is just as an important accomplishment as improving the print and web presence of The Stute, despite the fact that our final product is all that people can judge The Stute by, unless they are members. Of course, as I’ve outlined in my first editorial, I do have goals and those will be accomplished, but I don’t know if I can be entirely hands-off or hands-on, or formal or informal.

I’ll be working this balancing act throughout my tenure as Editor-in-Chief and life, most certainly. I know that this identity crisis is something that goes far beyond the confines of The Stute office, but it is important that I figure this out for the sake of The Stute.

Stick around, stay tuned, and keep on reading. There’s a lot to look forward to from The Stute in the coming year, and I know talk is cheap, so we’ll be showing the entire Stevens community, and our readership, what we’ve got coming soon.