Dear reader,
With the end of the semester looming and new beginnings on the horizon, I want to take a moment to appreciate the legacies Central Connecticut State University has created.
From a student-run newspaper that has served the Central community for more than 30 years, to the athletics department continuing to facilitate championship-level teams since joining in 1997, to the university awarding 27,768 degrees in the last decade, according to CCSU’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, the history of CCSU is one to be proud of.
For all the students who have called themselves Blue Devils, and for all the faculty who have inspired generations of upstanding citizens, there is reason to remain appreciative of the journey, as those before us share those same sentiments.
As it pertains to The Recorder, Marcus and I set a goal this academic year to bolster voices on campus and preserve the work of those who came before us. We took on the mantle of co-editors-in-chief to show the campus community that the work journalists do is still important and that there are stories that need to be told.
Our plan started with publishing a paper weekly, and we were told by some that even something that simple might be too tall a task. In 2025, from the spring semester to the fall semester, we published more than double the number of issues, covering topics ranging from dorm overflow to national issues such as the No Kings protests.
In this short time, we have not only released 23 print editions during the academic year, but also created a well-organized team to carry on the work.
For that reason, there are a few people I would like to thank as I write my final letter.
Aaliyah Norton, thank you for your unwavering guidance and patience. You have been more than an adviser, you have been someone we could trust throughout the process.
I would also like to thank the journalism department for entrusting us with representing not just the department, but every journalist who has walked, and will walk, across the stage.
A huge thank you to the staff. Without you, nothing would be possible. The sleepless nights and heavy workloads were made manageable by your efforts, and I am forever grateful.
As the title suggests, words cannot describe how appreciative I am of my co-editor-in-chief, Marcus Saunders. Whether it was leaving the office at 9 a.m. to get the paper to the printing press or building a budget from scratch, you were there. Your intentions have always been in the best interest of the paper, and I am grateful to have worked alongside you.
Thank you to Nicolina Coronis for taking on the mantle and preserving the legacy through another academic year of strong journalism.
And of course, thank you, yes, you. Picking up this paper is why we write. You are who we do it for. Your responses and support have provided opportunities and access we would not have otherwise. We hope you continue to value our work as much as we value your input. Thank you.
Signing out,
Wonderful Wishes,
Elijah Hernandez
Co-Editor-In-Chief
