Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Demand the Best From Your Newspaper

In my last issue as THE HOYA’s editor in chief, I want to encourage our readers to think about what they want from campus media at Georgetown.

THE HOYA is not an editors’ newspaper. It exists primarily for the students, not its editors. It exists for the faculty, the staff, the parents (and other tuition payers), the alumni and yes, the administration. It is the university community’s newspaper.

That is true of any newspaper. The Washington Post exists to serve the citizens, taxpayers and residents of the Washington region.

But it is particularly the case for a college newspaper, where editors do not answer to corporate headquarters, where job security is not an issue and where the community can have a real and visible impact.

Campus media informs the community of the decisions the university makes, particularly those that students would not otherwise hear about – decisions that shape our four years here. The opinion pages provide a forum to debate these issues, to voice the arguments for and against various policies and positions.

Students should expect the very best from this newspaper. Not only because the decisions made here affect students in such an acute way during our four years. Not just because we pay such a great deal of money to attend this university. Students should make great demands of this newspaper because they should have great expectations for this university.

Strong newspapers make for stronger universities because the press fosters an informed and engaged community that will demand more. From the newspaper. And in turn, from the university.

It should come as no surprise then that the best college newspapers can be found at the best universities, including those without journalism programs. The Harvard Crimson. The Daily Pennsylvanian. The Stanford Daily. The Daily Northwestern. The George Washington Hatchet. The Boston College Heights.

THE HOYA has worked this year to go independent from Georgetown University so it can radically improve its institutional attitude. Independence is the most important step THE HOYA can take to become the kind of vibrant publication that has challenged other universities to improve, that has held other universities’ leaders accountable for their decisions.

Independent newspapers do a better job than university-published newspapers because they recognize the freedom they have to report without looking over their shoulder.

This is particularly the case at Catholic universities, where tensions over the identity, mission and character of the university remain at the forefront of campus debate and dialogue. Independent newspapers at Boston College and Notre Dame have improved tenfold since severing official ties during the 1970s despite recurring questions over the extent of editorial freedom when content conflicts with Catholic identity.

University-published newspapers at other Catholic colleges have not fared as well. Administrators at the Catholic University of America cut all stipends to editors at The Tower this spring after a series of informed stories brought heat upon the administration last fall.

The April Fools’ issue of The Aquinas proved to be the last straw for the administrators at the University of Scranton last year. That newspaper, a finalist for the Associated College Press’ highest award last year, was shut down for the rest of the semester.

So perhaps it is unsurprising that independence has received tepid support from this university, and it will take more than an honest effort by the editors to make a free press a reality at Georgetown.

A cursory glance over this year’s news shows that sometimes change on this campus requires bold action. It took a hunger strike to change the wages paid to contracted workers, and it took a federal lawsuit to end the university’s nondisclosure policy in sexual assault cases.

Clearly, Georgetown wants to be a better university. A great one, at that.

Georgetown’s leaders have, over the past 25 years, taken great strides to improve Georgetown’s standing, building it from a strong, regional Catholic school to a nationally renowned, top-25 institution. And Georgetown has aimed higher still, looking, in some departments, to rival even Harvard, Yale and the elite of the elite. Georgetown has become a better university because it has worked to overcome institutional challenges.

So why does Georgetown promote mediocrity in its campus media? Why does it stifle creativity and innovation in the press? Why does it rebuff challenges to the status quo?

Georgetown’s leaders have taken great strides to make this university excellent because it allowed, even encouraged, the faculty, staff and students to aim higher.

If only the same could be said for campus press.

Fortunately, THE HOYA does not exist for the editors. It exists for you. Demand the most from it.

Nick Timiraos is a junior in the College and outgoing editor in chief of THE HOYA.

Donate to The Hoya

Your donation will support the student journalists of Georgetown University. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Hoya