Sherine John / Daily Nexus
Dear reader,
I believe that one of the biggest lies that the world tries to sell you is that you have to go through life alone.
That’s why, in April 2024, I was proud to become one of two co-editors in chief of the Daily Nexus, as part of the first duo in our 95-year-old paper’s recent history to assume the position. And as we pass the torch to another pair of fearless women, I am thrilled to be leaving a legacy of partnership within the role of editor in chief.
It’s like the saying goes: No man — or woman — is an island.
Partnership — trust in and connection with your peers — is perhaps the most apt word to describe this past year. Through collaboration between editors and across sections, our team pushed boundaries as scribes of living history.
This year posed novel challenges for both the Nexus staff and the individuals we serve. President Donald Trump’s return to office in January brought attacks on issues like immigrants’ rights, education and public health, all tenets of liberty that are integral to the livelihoods of our campus community. As a newsroom, we often asked ourselves: How do we navigate the human responsibility of protecting our community as a news outlet while transparently reporting on pertinent issues?
This year, I learned that journalistic integrity is about the people that the news covers as much as it is about the news itself. We engaged in countless conversations about how to deliver accurate news while keeping empathy for our campus community, especially at-risk and underserved individuals, at the center of it all.
Naturally, the content of the news that we produce is often sobering. But one of the most rewarding aspects of working at a newspaper is being able to document events like strikes for improved working conditions, workshops about underrepresented cultures and vigils for lives lost: moments where people band together for causes they believe are important.
For instance, Santa Barbara saw her people come to her defense this year as oil company Sable Offshore attempted to restart subsea pipelines within the Santa Ynez Unit — efforts widely regarded as detrimental to our environment.
As UC Santa Barbara students turned out in hundreds to protest the pipeline, our News, Production and executive teams asked, “How can we convey this important story in the most engaging way possible?”
The result? My favorite front cover of the school year — a riveting combination of design and data that demonstrates what uniquely talented people can accomplish together. And, with Sable illegally restarting the pipeline just last week, I know the work of the Nexus in accessibly reporting these developments is not over.
The very concept of accessibility is ever-evolving, especially in the attention economy that emerged alongside short-form content. For me, accessibility in the screen age means meeting people where they’re at: making sure every sentence I edit is easy to understand and bolstering our presence on social media.
But I’m equally passionate about meeting people where they’re at physically. When Amitha and I assumed the role of editors in chief, one of our foremost goals was to increase the Nexus’ presence on campus, hoping to eventually open up the office as a venue for performances. We worked with Video and Artsweek to revive the “Batcave Sessions,” a series of live concerts that bring local music to our office under Storke Tower.
At this year’s inaugural show, Isla Vista band Buffalo Chateau rocked out for a captive audience, sheathed in golden light —- a far cry from the office’s usual fluorescent overheads. From my former post on the Copy couch, I listened to the twang of guitar riffs and watched our Video editors focus their cameras on the band, remembering to remember this moment forever.
I cannot reflect on my time in the newsroom without bringing us back to the beginning: my freshman year Daily Nexus orientation. I loved the Nexus office at first sight: the Will Ferrell cutout standing guard, the Polaroids of editors long gone and the beer bottles illuminated by the sun.
Instantly, I wanted in.
It is the near-Disneylandic magic of my orientation experience that inspired me as I spearheaded our recruitment efforts. From the enthusiastic Nexites tabling in the Arbor to the gorgeous flyers designed by Art to the revitalized branding kit I designed in collaboration with our Social team, this year’s recruitment efforts were some of the most vibrant I’ve seen from any campus organization.
That first orientation of winter quarter, I held the door as an endless stream of eager beavers spilled into the Nexus office. I stood in front of the largest number of people that I had ever seen in the space and nearly teared up as I talked about how much I love working in our humble basement.
Will my heart ever be that full again? Unclear. (Circle back at my wedding or the birth of my first child.)
This letter is my long-winded way of saying: I’ve had the time of my life serving as your editor in chief.
Amitha Bhat, there is nobody that I would have rather taken on this beast of a job with. Your brilliance, commitment and compassion show in everything that you do, and I am so proud of everything that we’ve accomplished together. Thank you for daring to make history with me.
Sherine John / Daily Nexus
Sneha Cheenath, I would have gone crazy this year if not for your wisdom and ability to approach a challenge from any angle. I will forever treasure your excellent jokes and the occasional Sylvia Plath poem recited outside Deja Vu.
Pricila Flores and Atmika Iyer, it is such an honor to stand upon the foundation that you built in your time as editors in chief. None of our accomplishments would have been possible without your guidance.
Linda Meyer, we couldn’t have survived this year without your invaluable help and rock-solid advice. Thank you for everything.
The superstars on Production, Copy and Social, thank you for all that you do. Our non-content-producing sections are truly our lifeline without a byline.
Lucy Dixon, you are the G.O.A.T. Thank you for being my adventure buddy, a listening ear and my dearest friend. I hope we are roommates getting ready to “Waiting for Tonight” in every universe.
My youngins — Kendra Martinez, Alicia Siebers, Kaavya Saini and Andrew Tolu — not to be an oldie, but I see a bit of myself in each of you, and I am so excited to see what you do in your future at the Nexus. I hope you know how proud of you all I am.
Lauren Chiou, thank you for being my best friend in and out of the office. Who else would share my weird affinity for writing (NOT freestyling) original raps, nerdy fascination with American government and commitment to the bit? Nobody gets me like Chiou.
My parents and baby brother, you inspire me to work harder and take pride in everything I do. You rock.
Shayla Prasad and Anusha Singh, our successors, I could not have imagined two greater people to lead this beacon of the free press with empathy and courage. The future belongs to you.
To every single member of our staff, thank you for offering your dedication to the Nexus. You made me realize that no matter what I end up pursuing as a career, I want to do it alongside people who love what they do. It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your boss, rivaled only by the honor of being your friend.
Dear reader, whoever you are, the crux of my letter is as follows. I only had three years at UCSB. Maybe you have two or just one. So, when the extracurricular you picked up on a whim ends up inspiring you to be the best version of yourself, don’t take that for granted. Dedicate your days to doing work you care deeply about — with love and with the people you love.
Amitha interviewed me last quarter for her communication senior honors thesis, an exploration of the experience of student leaders at UCSB. In one of the questions, she asked me why I decided to run for editor in chief.
“I asked myself, what would I be doing if I weren’t all in?” I replied. “The answer? I’d be wishing that I were all in.”
Signing off,
Emily Yoon
2024-25 Editor in Chief
—
Term Trivia
Favorite print snack:
- Trader Joe’s kimbap
Favorite nexus memory:
- Dancing to “Supercut” at our first staff function
Self-appointed office superlative:
- Worst, most confident office dance moves
Original section
- Copy
Favorite print edition
- February 27, 2025, AKA the “County Plugs Pipeline” cover
Favorite thing about the Nexus
- The paycheck. KIDDING. The people, the creative freedom and the magic of our little office itself.
Describe each other in three words
- Amitha is: slay, mother and boss
What section would you want to be an editor for, other than your own?
- Artsweek
For Amitha Bhat’s letter from the editor, click here.
