Editorial

I am thrilled to give a warm welcome back to all Monmouth students, faculty, and staff!

Welcome to the club. As the University’s Wrestling Club hits the mat for the first time this semester, The Outlook’s editors reflected on the state of clubs at Monmouth and their experiences with them.

Job hunting. It’s stressful, time consuming, and a constant battle to outshine your peers. As a college student anything you can do to make the search easier, you will.

In the early 1990s, I was a young burgeoning journalist in the war-torn Croatia lead by, democratic on paper, but in all other way’s autocratic government. Right from the start, in 1991 Croatian Democratic Party and its leadership lead a public campaign against free and independent journalism. My home was a small local newspaper “Otok Ivanic” (Island Ivanic), that covered about 20, 000 inhabitants, in mostly rural areas. We covered local politics and occasionally commented on national politics when they affected the lives of people in our area.

I am writing this note to The Outlook Editors from a classroom in Plangere where the digital clock says half of the number 7 part of number 5 and an entire 8, which I guess means 7:58, or maybe 9:58, but more on that later, as the Chair of the Department of Communication I want to apologize to the editors and the staff of the newspaper for their disappointment in lack of reaction to the removed newspapers. When the incident occurred, I did verbalize my support and willingness to aid the staff and editors whatever way they wanted to move forward with investigating the incident. However, I should have put that support in writing, in-print, in the school’s newspaper.  So, this letter serves to do that and to also enlighten the staff and editors to my experience as an Alum of Monmouth College; as a former writer and editor for The Outlook; as a faculty member and now as the Chair of the Department of Communication.

When you think of giving blood, what do you associate with the experience? Doing good for others? Saving lives? How about, giving back to those who need it the most? These may be all things you connect with blood donation. But, what about controversy?

Reading is on the decline for college students. According to a 2019 American Time Use survey, individuals aged 15-54 read for pleasure only ten minutes per day on average, compared to 48 minutes for individuals aged 75 and older.

Classes are back in session, and The Outlook is back in pursuit of upholding the ideals of Freedom of Speech.

Can you hear me now? Roam campus and you might find that your phone is roaming as well. It might even occur in some class-rooms, or you might just have “No Service” written across the top of your screen. 

The Outlook staff was made aware that copies of a previous issue were removed from stands, apparently, by someone unrelated to the newspaper.