Welcome back to the Spring semester! While the Stevens student body has been on break for the past month, The Stute has been diligently working behind the scenes in preparation for this semester. Extending beyond Winter break, we’ve been focusing on setting ourselves up for the future over the past few months. I know this may sound mysterious, but before delving into the details, I want to clarify the purpose of this article.
As a public-facing organization, it’s important to carefully consider the information we share, including determining what to share, with who, and when. The strategic approach is employed in all sorts of organizations, just as The Stute has, enabling us to navigate situations effectively and eventually be able to respond to questions regarding the matter. I’m now sharing this information because, as an Eboard, we have resolved our situation and I want to provide transparency about what The Stute has been experiencing behind the scenes.
In early November, I received an email from our now former printing company notifying me that they could no longer print The Stute starting in the new year. As the former Head Layout Editor and current Editor-in-Chief, the physical copies of the paper have always meant a lot to me, making this news especially difficult to hear. In response, I thanked them for the heads up, expressed gratitude for their years of service, and asked about the printing specifications I would need to contract a new printer.
Up until this point, I had kept this information to myself. I knew that there was no way to retain this printer, and I just needed to wait until I had all the right information before sharing it with the rest of the Stute leadership. Despite the weight of this secret, I felt a responsibility to maintain composure and keep operations running smoothly as usual. Though it may seem controlling and limiting, it is my responsibility as Editor-in-Chief to ensure the success of the organization, and I believe it was right to wait until I had answers rather than sending everyone into panic-mode. A week after receiving the news, I shared the details with The Stute’s 16 person minorboard and asked them to respect the decision to keep that information confidential. As a news outlet and major organization on campus, we didn’t want rumors circulating about The Stute facing issues or worst-case scenario, shutting down.
Choosing not to immediately disclose this information with the public was a big decision, not only to refrain from sharing it with the general public, but also ensuring it did not reach the university or the Student Government Association. This decision aimed to ensure The Stute could maintain as much autonomy and financial independence as possible, avoiding external influence during this crucial time. The Stute generally has a good relationship with both of these entities and while some may have felt disappointed that we didn’t confide in them or accept their help, we prioritized The Stute’s interest, and I believe they ultimately understand.
I want to take a moment to give a huge shout out and thank you to our business manager, Tanya, who was extremely dedicated and worked from abroad during winter break, handling contracts and forms. Her efforts were instrumental in successfully navigating this transition, and her contributions deserve special recognition.
Fortunately, in terms of the public eye, nothing has changed, and that’s what matters most. You will still be able to pick up your physical copy of The Stute every Friday, as always. Admittedly, I may not have handled this situation perfectly, and in hindsight, I might approach it differently in a similar circumstance. Dealing with information and the decision not to disclose put considerable pressure on myself and the Eboard. However, everything worked out, and I’m proud of how we managed this transition.
