Hello, everybody. My name is Lisa Stemmons, and I am the Voice Editor of the Bradley Scout. Last week’s Valentine’s Day issue, the Voyeur, and the consequential series of events following the printing of the publication, have left me in a compromising position. With that being said, I would like to inform readers of the Voice section’s mission statement.
Back in middle school when we were just beginning to learn how to write, one of the major concepts reiterated time and time again was the necessity of finding “your voice.” Discovering your particular writing style, something that sets you apart from the cookie-cutter essay outline, was essential to creating a compelling piece.
It’s been a long-running joke that if we don’t know where to put something in the paper, we place it in Voice. It is the misfit of the sections, and consequently, it’s content has evolved over time. Yes, we cover entertainment and pop culture-related topics, but we also write about whatever our writers find interesting.
It is not intended to be the voice of the university as a whole, but rather the voices of any individuals who are willing to share their attitudes and beliefs in a passionate manner.
The Voice section took a calculated risk by creating something atypical from its usual content, something potentially exciting to define the section among the thousands of ordinary collegiate newspapers. We strove to remain inclusive, while still leaving room for our writers to have fun and express their own opinions.
The essence of Voice is, at its core, its ability to be a platform for self-expression. I do not turn a cold cheek to the idea of change. I appreciate any suggestions and embrace the idea of improving my writing through open discussion. No tweak is too miniscule, and I am constantly working toward articulating my words in a manner that properly reflects my intentions.
Voice serves to nurture prospective writers, initiate healthy dialogue and, sometimes, just to entertain and garner laughter, allowing our readers to let the tribulations of the world slide into a temporary void.
