This special edition marks the beginning of a new era for The Exponent. Our introductory issue is a preview of our exciting next chapter. 

As we start to produce content again, you may notice that there’s a lot that’s new. We’ve moved into our new headquarters inside Loomis Hall, introduced a fresh new look inspired by our past, and are in the midst of designing a new, improved web and mobile experience over at bwexponent.com (coming soon!).  

Soon, you’ll see us expand our digital footprint with more frequent content and revamped engagement on all major social media platforms.   

That’s a lot of changes, and change takes time, especially the big ones. Bear with us as we work out the kinks on all these new and exciting changes – we’re a work in progress.  

What will not change is our commitment to telling honest, deep-impact stories about the issues that you care about as BW students and Berea residents. We are strengthening our commitment to quality, unflinching reporting, fun entertainment coverage and everything in between. 

I can’t wait to share with you the new and improved Exponent, and we appreciate your patience as we work diligently to ensure that everything we produce exceeds the standard of quality you’ve come to expect since we first started informing the community in 1913. 

We’re changing because, simply put, the world around us is changing. The media landscape has shifted, decimating many vital sources of local news. We believe that we can – and must – play a key role in filling in the information gap in our community. As such, we are allocating significant resources to reporting outside of the walls of our campus, and further into the City of Berea.  

I am also mindful of the ways in which misinformation can run rampant in today’s discourse, especially in the younger generations. It is my hope that The Exponent will provide trustworthy information, but also give our peers important tools to expand their media literacy and better interact with the news they consume every day.  

Stay tuned as we begin to roll out these changes over the coming weeks and months. Over the course of the year, we will constantly innovate to better serve our readers. We value your feedback in this endeavor. Please email comments and suggestions to [email protected] if you are so inclined.  

We are working hard to grow our staff to make our ambitious goals a reality. If you’re interested in a well-paid position — we are actively recruiting staff writers, social media and business specialists — please contact us at [email protected] to learn how you can join.  

We’re proud to serve our community, and it is my sincere hope that we’ll produce something you all can be proud of too. Thank you for reading. There is a lot more to come.