By Ameer Abedy

During the first year of the Torch’s existence, the Torch crew made a habit of publishing semi periodic statements reflecting on the state of the Torch, which is a habit that we hope to reestablish. In that spirit, we present you with this brief statement.

For those following the Torch semi regularly, you might have noticed that we have not published much over the summer. That three months hiatus has been a period of great reflection for all of us. The most substantial outcome of that is the importance of reaffirming the mission and purpose of the Torch: to provide an independent platform for Berea community members and amplify their voice. It is no secret that the Torch has grown significantly since its inception, and so has our crew. We are incredibly proud of the work we have achieved thus far and are proud to have withstood the various challenges to the existence and independence of our publication.

We pledge to make a deliberate effort to maintain the integrity of our mission and tailor it to fit the ever growing size of our publication. The most visible example of our efforts is the new look of our website and logo which you must have noticed. That being said, our efforts are bound to fall short without the participation of the Berea community. To that end, we would like to invite you to participate in our dear publication. Send us any submissions, tips, or quotes that you would like us to publish or pursue. It is imperative that Berea community members, students or not, take the liberty to share their voices on the Torch in order for it to fulfill its mission. Feel free to send us submissions through the submissions tab on our website.

The Torch has always been a publication for and by Bereans, and will proudly remain so in the future.

Signing off, the Torch Crew.