From the Editor: Inside This Issue
Benjamin Pontz ’20, Editor-in-Chief of The Gettysburgian (Photo Mary Frasier/The Gettysburgian)
A Note from Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Pontz:
This marks the second edition of The Gettysburgian’s new magazine. I opened the first edition by printing some quotes that appeared in The Gettysburgian’s second-ever print edition (back in 1897) in which readers responded to what they saw in the first. I thought it appropriate to share a few comments we received on our first magazine here.
“I just read the first edition of The Gettysburgian magazine, and it’s a winner! I thoroughly enjoyed the wide variety of stories, excellent writing, and attractive layout. In particular, I applaud the substantive articles on Low Support Staff Wages, the SCOGL Report, and the Untangling the Liberal Arts Lie – all thoughtful reads,” one reader wrote. “Please pass on my hearty congratulations to the Gettysburgian’s talented staff. You’ve set a high bar of excellence with your first edition, and I look forward to reading what comes next.”
“I am grateful to see this publication,” wrote another.
It has been gratifying that so many readers have seen the value in this project, and that validation has served to enhance the resolve of our team in producing a first-rate publication.
This issue is our next salvo in that endeavor. One of the opportunities this format provides is to take a deep dive into a particular aspect of the college; in this issue, we focus on sustainability.
In 2007, then-Gettysburg College President Katherine Haley Will signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, which pledged the college to develop a plan to become carbon neutral, integrate sustainability into the curriculum, and develop a publicly-available action plan. That action plan was developed and released in 2009.
Now, ten years later, we are taking the opportunity to assess the progress Gettysburg College has made, point out areas where the college’s actions may not meet the high standard set forth by its words, and, in a staff editorial, advocate for more aggressive and visible action that goes beyond purchasing offsets and ensuring new construction is energy efficient.
This issue features an investigation, an op-ed, and a staff editorial that confront this challenging topic. It also features analysis of data into how much money the college spends on instruction relative to other priorities, a look at how the college prepares students to study abroad, profiles of four student artists (three musicians and a thespian), and an endeavor to answer the age-old question: who is our biggest athletic rival — Dickinson or F&M?
As I did in our first edition, I invite you to take some time to sit down with this magazine, read it slowly while thinking deeply about the community in which we each play a role, and ponder how we all might work together to help Gettysburg College reach the full measure of our aspirations.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Pontz ‘20
Editor-in-Chief
The Gettysburgian
Note: This note from the editor originally appeared on page 2 of the October 31, 2019 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
