There is always a story behind the story.

Two years ago an impromptu tradition began whereby THE HOYA’s outgoing editor in chief writes a few words in his final issue to address a pressing issue for the newspaper’s future. In the two previous farewell addresses by Nick Timiraos (COL ’06) and Michael Kurdyla (COL ’06), that issue invariably has been the ongoing discussions between THE HOYA and university officials concerning THE HOYA’s bid for independence.

That’s the story. Now, here’s the story behind the story.

Ever since Joseph Mickler (C ’20) started this publication out of his Ryan Hall dormitory room, THE HOYA’s goal has always been to improve the quality of the content that it delivers to the campus community.

“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,” Timiraos wrote back in April 2005 (“Demand the Best from Your Newspaper,” THE HOYA, April 25, 2005, A3). He had good reason to be optimistic. At various points in the newspaper’s history, visionary student leaders have worked with visionary university administrators to make substantial improvements to the way this newspaper functions. I encourage our readers who were on campus a year and a half ago to ask themselves if they are demanding more from their newspaper, and from their university.

“Progress is a nice word,” Robert Kennedy wrote in 1964. “But change is its motivator. And change has enemies.” THE HOYA does not want to change. It wants to progress.

There is always a story behind the story. And facts alone are never enough to tell it.

Facts are good only for what questions they prompt. This is not the way journalists are supposed to think. “Add clarity. inimize confusion,” the reporter’s mantra goes. antras are misleading.

Newspapers aim to report truth, but truth is elusive. Whoever claims to possess it generally doesn’t. THE HOYA makes no claim of omniscience.

We attribute our sources and try to include as many points of view as possible in any story we cover. Opinions are limited to the clearly marked opinion pages.

Despite the efforts of our dedicated staff, errors regularly make it into publication. When an error is brought to our attention, we always publish a correction. We do not like to be wrong in what we report, but are always open to criticism and correction when we publish an inaccuracy. Criticism – both internal and external – is one reason THE HOYA has been able to improve over its 86 years of publication.

Read THE HOYA critically. Be skeptical. Look for the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in out reporting, and tell us when we are wrong. But don’t stop there.

This newspaper regularly criticizes the university, student groups and students, among others, on our opinion pages. We encourage others to do the same.

While egos are sometimes bruised, criticism does not imply a vote of no confidence or a personal vendetta. Quite the contrary.

All sectors of the Georgetown community – from individuals to student organizations to the university administration – must examine themselves critically and raise existential questions if they aspire to progress. THE HOYA will certainly continue to do so.

There is always a story behind the story. Sometimes we uncover it. Sometimes we don’t.

“This is off the record,” the voice on the other end of a phone call says. I sigh. Off-the-record sources are blessings in disguise. I’m often tempted to decline the offer. They usually mean that my day is about to get more complicated. Curiosity usually gets the best of me, and I listen to the story.

But the truth is always elusive. To find it, it’s necessary to be skeptical; it’s necessary to ask questions.

A former journalist and media lawyer once told me that there are five possible responses to a yes-or-no question: (1) yes, (2) no, (3) I do not know, but I will find out for you, (4) I do not know and cannot or will not find out for you, or (5) I do know and I am not going to tell you. Any other response – such as statements with only perfunctory relevance to the question – is a diversionary tactic.

Even if we at THE HOYA don’t always discover the details and even if we cannot report on everything we learn, generally we know when there exists a story behind the story. There always is.

Aaron Terrazas is a senior in the School of Foreign Service and outgoing editor in chief of THE HOYA.