A good journalist knows when to use a quote. Joan Didion, Harvard class of nineteen ninety-never, wrote, “The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily, in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself.”
1. The Newsies
“Ummm, yeah, I run a student newspaper.” Most people are quite confused when I explain that I am involved in journalism. I study engineering, work in finance, build technology, and spend time making “performance video art.” I don’t signal newspaper, or journalism, or media. I don’t even have a good definition of “news.”
I joined the Independent because I was afraid of forgetting how to write while I took math classes. When I virtually attended the student organization fair and clicked on the Indy, I was the only one in the Zoom room. Opposite of me was the then Editor-in-Chief of the Indy. She was a senior in my math class. It would’ve been awkward to immediately leave. She told me an very intriguing story about rebellious students, revealing investigations, and legacy. So, I showed up at the first comp meeting. There were three other students. It turned out the staff was about five people. I was surprised. The Indy was small.
But then, Arsh Dhillon ’23 and Mary Julia Koch ’23 took the reins, and the Indy started growing. Really quickly (too quickly?). They made me an editor (too early?) despite my complex relationship with grammar. I was editing stuff and writing stuff and meeting designers/musicians/lawyers/people that were interesting. That was exciting. And then Arsh left and I was made President. Mainly, because I had been there the second longest after Mary Julia, who taught me journalism and was now my co-equal.
So I ran a newspaper. We kept growing (now 114 members of staff). We returned to weekly print (every single Thursday). We made videos (millions of views). We broke the news. We broke news.
And finally, I realized what the Indy was.
- Magic. One of the few insightful things I’ve ever said about the Indy is “Somehow we print every Thursday.” People manage to write. People manage to edit. People manage to draw. And it gets delivered to people that want to read our words. There is no reason why it should work other than the perpetually miraculous fortune that we capture every week.
- A privilege. I spend time and effort on the paper with no reward but joy. To be an Indyite is a totally consumptive performance. This is a privilege. We reject norms and we reject what you think is right because we have a paper and you don’t. That is a privilege.
- The rhizome. Emerging from the tangling relationship of staff is something that breathes and lives from every inside to the outside. I am responsible for nothing we do in the same way I am responsible for everything we do. We belong to no one but ourselves.
2. It’s your fault
Sometimes during my tenure as president folks have complained. Sometimes these folks are Indyites. Sometimes they are not. Broadly the complaints fall into 3 categories: 1) complaints about the organization. 2) complaints about an issue. 3) complaints about an article.
So now I will respond to all previous complaints and all future complaints. The Independent is a reflection of you. Our organization is a result of your participation. Our issues are a result of your tremendous voluntary work. Our articles are written for your enjoyment. Of course, they are written by us for us but that does not excuse the “you” from the “us”. We have grown substantially over the past four years. Clearly, students continue to comp. Writers continue to write. Most importantly, our audience continues to read.
You vote with your attention. If you don’t like it, don’t pay attention. But, you like it. The TikToks, the listicles, the opinion, the investigations, the crossword, and the drama are a conveniently specific oasis.
You are smart and work hard. I can’t presume to lecture you, but maybe I can endeavor to think with you, laugh with you, and cry with you. Our independence is shaped by our compassion and empathy for our readers. We are independently in the community.
So yeah. It’s your fault.
3. The grass is greener
The grass is definitely greener after I retire. Without realizing it, my vision for the Indy was constricted by the scarcity I experienced when I started. Now, the Indy stands in abundance. Our next leaders, writers, designers, and business people dream magnificent dreams.
Eliza Kimball ’25 is the next President. She works harder than gravity.
Andrew Spielmann ’25 is the next Editor-in-Chief. His temperament is Mediterranean (and he edited Arts).
Mir Zayid Alam ’25 is the next Head of Business. He will make money (this of course is something new).
Layla Chaaraoui ’26 is the next Managing Editor. She can write (important to a newspaper).
The future staff will remember to break convention. They will write. You will read. Everything will be better than it was.
4. Gratitude
It’s proper that gratitude breaks the rule of threes. Also, I have a lot to be thankful for. I couldn’t write a note for everybody here, but I will thank you in person.
Thanks Marissa, you showed me the Indy.
Thanks Arsh, you taught me independence.
Thanks MJ, you taught me English.
Thanks Marbella, you did everything I couldn’t.
Thank you Board of Advisors (both formal and informal), each of you have done something with me that will stay with me forever. Dolls, videos, semesterly reports…
Thank you Editors, you produce.
Thank you Designers, thank you Designers, thank you Designers.
Thank you Comp Classes, your energy gave me energy.
Thank you Business Staff, we had fun.
Thank you reader.
Noah Tavares ’24 (noahtavares@college.harvard.edu) writes for the Independent.