A Letter to Wheel Readers

Hello, and happy beginning of the year to both our seasoned Wheel readers and our newcomers!

I hope that your fall semester has shone brightly so far with excitement, curiosity, and anticipation. My name is Alma Silver, and I am proud to serve as the current Editor-in-Chief of The Wheel student newspaper, a publication that has been an integral part of the fabric of St. Kate’s student life for the past eighty-five years. I am thrilled to work alongside a talented and innovative team of writers and editors who are dedicated to supporting the culture of a student newspaper and facilitating conversation through a wide variety of stories and perspectives.

Although The Wheel’s mission statement has evolved over the years, and will continue to undergo changes that reflect the needs of the needs of the time, one core principle remains the same: we are a voice for the student body. Our role is to spark awareness and dialogue surrounding the issues, events, and ideas that circulate within our campus community. Sometimes, the dialogue that needs to happen may feel challenging or uncomfortable, especially as the academic year unfolds in all its complexity, growth and change. However, as an independent and student-directed publication, The Wheel strives to create a safe space for contribution by welcoming all voices and perspectives. We value a mindful and collaborative process of storytelling that encompasses the rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds and identities within our student body.

We sustain our role as a voice for students through continuous input, feedback, requests, and ideas from readers such as yourself! The Wheel is run by the students for the students, and we aim to authentically reflect the creative talents and unique ideas within our student body. We invite each of you to interact and engage with The Wheel throughout the weeks and months to come! Whether it be a request for coverage of your club’s event, an anonymous story tip, or an impassioned editorial about the issues that matter to you, we will ensure that your voice is included and heard within our publication. Additionally, we want to celebrate your art and passions! We love when students submit their original poetry, artwork, cartoons, photographs, stories, and everything else that sparks a creative fire. The Wheel was created to be your newspaper, and we can build a powerful community through engagement, connection, and celebration of all that each of us brings to St. Kate’s.

Last spring semester, The Wheel team celebrated the publication of our first print edition in the last five years. We felt elated at the dialogue and engagement fueled by the circulation of student voices on paper once again. Because of this, we will be sustaining our presence in print, and you can watch out for our next special edition, expected to be released toward the end of this semester. Moreover, we have launched a brand-new website, featuring a cleaner and more polished look. You can visit our website to access our latest stories, past Wheel articles, and opportunities for submissions: stkateswheel.org

We look forward to working with you throughout the semester! For more information about The Wheel, or to submit a story pitch or original work, please send us a message at wheel@stkate.edu.

Best wishes for an incredible year of success and growth!