Letter From the Editors: Welcome Back!
I just opened a copy of meeting notes from last September, and it says we only had four people in attendance at our first staff meeting!
Now we have a staff of 26 people!
That’s actually crazy to think about.
Sometimes I feel like we’ve been doing this forever with a staff of 20+ people.
And then I remember it was only last year, and we had six people.
We’ve really come so far.
The above is a text exchange between us Co-Editors-in-Chief from last week. Those messages encapsulate how far The Pacifican has truly come and the growth that ensued last year. But that was last year. Now, it is a new year, and we have new goals to strive for. Instead of only surviving, we want to thrive. Instead of having a good year, we want to ground the publication for years to come. Instead of writing good stories, we want to write breaking stories. And lastly, instead of seeking topics, we want to publish what you want to read.
Last year, we shared about our funding being cut and our sudden office move. At times, it felt as though support was lacking, but you all showed up in more ways than one. From our immensely generous donors who matched donations during Pacific Gives, to our peers who gave what they could, and advanced us toward our goal of overall donations, you helped save student journalism at Pacific. Now, with our feet underneath us, we want to continue to grow into something no one could have imagined a year ago. Our staff boasts returners and new members, dreamers and visionaries, determined writers and collaborative editors.
The history of The Pacifican is storied, with many ups and downs to be told. More recently, it felt that the paper was known for its struggles, instead of its strengths. We have encountered students who were unaware that the university even had a newspaper, and staff who were unclear where to find our stories. Now, when we table, we are met with recognition and support from students, faculty, staff, and even alumni who remember The Pacifican fondly and are glad to see it still running strong. As we look ahead, we desire to cement The Pacifican as part of the campus community and as a collegiate student-run newspaper. Not only does that entail leaving the publication better and more connected than we found it, but also making a name for ourselves amongst the ranks of other college papers across the country.
Last year, our writers and editors spent hours scouring the University’s calendar of events and athletic game schedules. This year, we have already received article requests from various student organizations. Those are relationships we are more committed than ever to forge and build. We want to reimagine our place on campus and the ways we can connect with other students and their passions, spotlighting them and their efforts to make the world a better place. Their stories, your stories, have a place in The Pacifican. That said, our promise to you is that no email will go unanswered, nor direct message ignored. We want to engage with you and come together as fellow Pacificans.
Continuing, we see all of our readers, each of you who takes the time to read our stories and subscribe to our newsletter. We saw our clicks increase on our website, and our viewers on social media grow. It was never about the numbers, but the stories behind them. This year, we want to give you even more than ever before. We want to publish breaking stories, whether concerning a recent decision made by the university, a huge win for one of our athletics teams, a groundbreaking realization of the student body, or ways to overcome the doom-scrolling plague. As much as we want to increase the number of articles flowing off the press, we also want to broaden the scope and richness of our stories. Along with that, we are committed to building up our staff and providing them with opportunities to grow as journalists and leaders.
We are truly grateful for the support of the Pacific community and our wonderful staff for all the love and dedication that have been given to The Pacifican this past year, and we are looking forward to this new year with hope and determination. As the semester continues to progress, keep an eye out for us, your student newspaper. Whether we are on the sidelines at an athletic contest, collecting interviews in your academic department, or knocking down doors to uncover the truth, we are committed to the cause of student-storytelling and continuing to fan the flame of journalism at Pacific.
With determination,
Amaya Leiby and Kara Uchizono, 2025-2026 Co-Editors-in-Chief