Letter from the Editor: Time for goodbye

By Caleb Tobin

Dear Reader, 

Three years ago, I attended my first layout night for The Summit in the basement of Cushing-Martin Hall, seeing for the first time how a newspaper goes from a bunch of articles and photos to a finished product that thousands of people will read. What I did not know at the time is that The Summit would soon become one of the best parts of my college experience, or that I would become the editor of the paper; a paper that has helped me grow as a writer, a leader, and a person. 

Being the editor in chief of a college newspaper is a bit of an odd job. You’re a 21-year-old student making decisions that will have ramifications long after you’ve left, with a staff that turns to you when they have questions, need advice, or are writing on a difficult topic. Sometimes the news is slow, other times you’re dropping everything you’re doing to report on a breaking story. However, with all its ups and downs, and even a local politician pretending to be a member of the staff, I look back on the past year and see a year full of memories and new achievements. 

Over the past year, The Summit has redesigned and upgraded its website, implemented new advertising options, increased the number of staff and contributors from 11 to 19, and tirelessly covered news on campus. The Summit covered the presidential election, the transition to Bon Appétit, plans for a new hockey rink, and so much more. I could go on and on about our coverage and the dedication of the staff, who have put in many hours of work making this paper the best it can be. It is because of them that The Summit continues to be such a valuable part of the Stonehill community and a trusted source of news on campus. 

On the topic of staff, I am thrilled to say that Maddi Achtyl will be the next editor in chief. I have been fortunate enough to work with Maddi over the past year and get to know such a kind and talented person, and I have no doubt that she will continue the great work The Summit has done over the past year.  

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the work done by our business manager, Ben Manning. Much of The Summit’s success this year, including securing funds for website upgrades and implementing new ad rates, is due in part to the work done by Ben, and I’m happy to say that he will be staying on as business manager next year as well. While much of his work is done behind the scenes, he has been a crucial part of the team this year, and I know that he and Maddi will improve upon the work done so far. 

Lastly, I have to thank The Summit’s advisor, Professor Boyle. Professor Boyle has been an invaluable resource for both me and the staff, always there to answer questions, offer advice, and joke about local politics. Professor Boyle is the one who asked me if I wanted to become editor of The Summit last April, and while I was initially hesitant, I will forever be grateful to her for believing in me and pushing me to do this job.  

Thank you for reading The Summit this year and for your continued support of the work we do. I cannot wait to see what The Summit does next year and what new stories it will cover. Have a great rest of the semester! 

Caleb Tobin 

Editor in Chief 

The Summit News