Hi there,
If you are joining us mid-year as a transfer student, let me introduce myself: my name is Anna Nelson and I am the editor-in-chief of The VanCougar. Whether you are brand new or a seasoned VanCoug, I would like to give you a mid-year update on The VanCougar.
2019 has proven a difficult year for our organization. Perhaps the most significant challenge to The VanCougar has been the resignation of our adviser, Raul Moreno. Moreno served as the student media adviser for four years and brought much influence to the student media organizations at WSU Vancouver: Koug Radio, the Salmon Creek Journal and The VanCougar. He was the first dedicated student media adviser at WSU Vancouver.
In his resignation letter Moreno cited the need for the student media adviser position to be extended to a full-time job, instead of the part-time position it is currently, so that the adviser might better support media literacy and professional training opportunities.
In his letter, Moreno encouraged WSU Vancouver to consider revamping student media to be more supportive of its leaders and staff, therefore better serving the student body.
“In my November resignation letter to the Student Media Board, I also point to the need for the board to examine its own representation in terms of diversity, and over the long term, its mission and relationships with faculty,” Moreno said in a farewell interview with The VanCougar.
Nonetheless, Moreno’s resignation ended on a note of thanks to his colleagues. “It’s been a wonderful, adventurous four-plus years that I will always remember fondly,” he said.
Despite these challenging circumstances, The VanCougar is still set on telling your stories, serving as a watchdog to the campus and reporting the truth. If you read my letter at the beginning of the year, you know my goal is to facilitate campus conversations. I still need your help to accomplish this goal. In a political and social climate where difficult conversations are hard to navigate, I challenge you to talk about the hard stuff, because that’s what is important.
If you have a story worth sharing, the submission form is located on CougSync. If you are interested in joining our fun, hard-working team, we are hiring for reporters, a photographer and an advertising manager — the application is also on CougSync.
Please, come say hi, we would love to show you around our little office, located in VDEN 160. And of course, keep an eye out for The VanCougar, on stands monthly, and the newswire, in inboxes weekly!
Go Cougs,
2019/2020 Editor-in-Chief
Anna Nelson
Anna Nelson is the Editor in Chief for the VanCougar. She is a senior and is studying strategic communications.