Letter from the Editor: Nearing the finish line

The curtain is beginning to close on this semester and on an entire era of The Corsair. I mentioned two weeks ago in this very section that there were some big changes coming, and now is the time to be clear about what those changes are. First, I am ending my tenure at The Corsair as editor-in-chief after these last two issues. It has been a wonderful, exhausting and educational ride that taught me a lot about journalism and a lot about myself.

I did consider coming back for a third round, but alas, the powers that be have decided to take the paper on a different course. Next semester will see The Corsair slashed down to 10 issues if not less, with an emphasis on digital content. The details seem to suggest the print edition will now be a bi or triweekly instead of a weekly. The world is changing and our advisor feels the campus paper should adapt to the new digital culture dominating the market.

At the helm to fill in the role of editor our advisor has designated the current A&E editor, Devin Page to sit in the captain's chair. This will be a great learning experience for him.

Before the transition takes place, we invite you to check out these last two issues of the spring semester. Our photostory this week reflects on the Memorial Day commemorations that took place on Monday. While many use the day for barbecues and get togethers, Memorial Day is meant to commemorate those who have died while in the armed forces.

While much of mainstream culture uses occasions like Memorial Day to preach nationalist slogans and cheer on the image of the soldier, we should probably use such days to reflect on the cost of war and conflict. With the Middle East still unstable and the U.S. slowly becoming more and more involved in armed responses to the rise of groups like ISIS (itself a result of the 2003 Iraq War), we should ponder the real human cost of war.

One of my favorite movies to revisit on Memorial Day is Oliver Stone's 1989 "Born On The Fourth Of July." Based on the memoirs of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, it stars Tom Cruise as Kovic, an idealistic young student in the 1960s who enlists to fight the Communist "menace" in Vietnam. While on patrol he's shot in the spine and returns paralyzed from the waist down, questioning the war and the excuses given by the powers that be for it. Stone, himself a Vietnam veteran, tells a timeless story that could be relevant for any generation.

This week's issue also features a letter from ICC chair Maya Kaitel on the recent tensions in the Associated Students. The recent expulsion of ICC vice-chair Courtney King from the ICC Social she planned last week certainly raised eyebrows. And when King sent us a letter, which we ran last week, denouncing the A.S.'s advisor, it was almost inevitable that there would be a counter-response. Even as the semester ends, there are still aftershocks of what has been a turbulent tenure. Even here at The Corsair, it has been two semesters of blood, sweat, and tears, but also much accomplishment. Stay tuned for our final issue next week where we will have many surprises and special features waiting for you.