Editorial: Welcome to Volume 50
Over this past summer, as each of us imagined the many ways we could reinvent The Medium with our own personal flair, the three of us discussed—sometimes quite passionately—the many different ambitions we hoped to achieve by the time the final issue was published in April. For the sake of total transparency, beneath each of these conversations was a subtle desire to pronounce our own individual excellences; to stamp our creative signatures across the front page of a publication we have all edited, written, and worked for.
As September drew closer, we reflected on the significance of the upcoming publishing year. The 50th anniversary of The Medium marks an important milestone for a small-scale publication, a milestone which carries a legacy of community and collaboration. This milestone would have sunk were it not for each and every person who contributed to The Medium over the past 50 years.
In starting our production on The Medium this September, we intend to honour that legacy. We plan to prioritize strengthening our place within the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). We understand that the longevity of a publication like ours is completely dependent on the steps we take now to encourage writers and editors to take a chance and put their work out there. So, we’ll invest our time and resources into our writers, editors, and readers as we work towards situating ourselves as a foundational collective in our community.
We’ve realized through our time working at The Medium that the legacy that’s important to focus on is not the legacy of any individual article or writer. The legacy that is crucial to the continued success of this newspaper is that of the publication itself. Success to us as editorial staff isn’t defined by a byline or a “big break;” it’s about continuing to build a safe space for UTM writers to share their stories, their feelings, and anything else they want to send out into the world.
In honouring this legacy, we intend to organize workshops and host in-person events to build on our existing community. We have also chosen to embrace Volume 50 as a blank slate to extend the reach of our publication and invite diverse voices and dispositions. This year, and hopefully every year after, The Medium wants to reach readers and writers from every corner of this campus. So, if you have a story or an idea that you feel is too strange or offbeat, reach out and we’ll find a page for it—provided it fits within our guidelines.
We look forward to a productive year of fostering honesty, individuality, creativity, and—most importantly, a safe space for everyone. We are excited at the prospect of continuing to build the wonderful friendships we have with our coworkers and the unique, enriching relationships we are lucky to have with UTM staff, students, and alumni.
We recognize that being a student publication and a non-profit organization allows us to have an abundance of agency in the choices we make in developing our weekly issues. We have the freedom to embrace laughter and the absurd as well as more traditional, serious news topics—and we fully intend to make the most of this special position.
This year, we want to recognize the past and embrace the future.
With love and excitement,
Juliana, Aidan, and River
Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor – Internal, and Managing Editor
Managing Editor (Volume 49); Senior Copy Editor (July–November, Volume 49); Copy Editor (Volume 48) — Juliana is a fourth-year student completing a double major in English and Professional Writing and Communication. She previously worked as a Copy Editor for Volume 48 and briefly as Senior Copy Editor for Volume 49. When she isn’t adding commas or splitting up run-on sentences, Juliana loves to read, play violin, sing, fangirl over multiple TV shows, and completely spoil her two dogs.
Copy Editor (Volume 49) | aidan@themedium.ca —Aidan is completing a major in Professional Writing and Communications at the University of Toronto Mississauga. He previously worked as the Associate Editor for the Arts and Entertainment section of The Medium, and currently works as the Copy Editor for The Medium. When he’s not catching up on course work or thumbing through style guides, Aidan spends his free time exercising (begrudgingly), singing (unmelodically), and trying (helplessly) to read David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. The latter of which has taken 3 years to reach the 16th page. You can connect with Aidan at aidan@themedium.ca.
Editor-in-Chief (Volume 50); Managing Editor (August-November, Volume 50); Copy Editor (Volume 49) — River recently completed his HBA in Political Science. He is deeply passionate about social justice and law and is always learning more by connecting with members of the UTM community. In his spare time, he can be found playing video games and jamming out on the guitar.