Change Is Here for Campus and Phoenix

Welcome back to another semester at GSU! On behalf of everyone here at The Phoenix, I wish every GSU student much success in their academic endeavors this fall.

With every new semester comes change.  The biggest change coming to GSU is that in two years, our university will become a four-year institution.  This year, The Phoenix staff will examine where GSU is at in terms of being prepared for freshman in 2014. The change from a two-year to a four-year institution will enable GSU to offer new opportunities to all of its students.  At the same time, this impending change will also present GSU with new challenges.  What does the presence of lower-division students mean for the school culture that is already in place?  How will this change affect the student body that already exists?  Is the school ready to accommodate freshmen and deal with the changes that becoming a four year institution will bring?  These are all questions that we will explore the answers to this year here at The Phoenix.

Speaking of change, there have been many changes here at The Phoenix.  I am honored to introduce myself as the new Editor-in-Chief of The Phoenix.  I have been a student at GSU since the Fall of 2010.  I am majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a minor in English.  In addition to school, I also work full time.  I had previously written articles for The Phoenix in the Spring 2012 semester.  My goal after graduation is to become a freelance writer, possibly even a fiction writer.  Prior to my time here at GSU, I graduated from Richard J. Daley College with an Associate of Arts degree.  I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be the editor of The Phoenix, and I look forward to bringing GSU students news that is informative, relevant, and interesting. 

Joining me as Associate Editor is Corrie Gray.  Corrie has been a student at GSU since the Fall of 2010, and has written for The Phoenix since Fall of 2011.  Corrie is also majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Business.  She is a graduate of South Suburban College, where she received an Associate of Arts degree in English.  Upon completion of her degree, Corrie plans to pursue an MBA.  Her dream is to one day start her own business. I know Corrie is just as excited as I am to be part of The Phoenix.

Also joining The Phoenix staff as business manager is Andrea Florenz.  Andrea came to GSU in the Fall of 2010, and is majoring in Community Health Administration, Geriatric track, with a minor in pre-law.  Andrea is a graduate of Prairie State College, where she received her Associate of Applied Sciences in nursing.  She worked as an RN from 1994-2005.  Upon graduating from GSU, Andrea plans on attending Loyola Law School, with a focus on Health Care Law, Corporate Compliance.  Andrea is thrilled to be joining The Phoenix staff as well.

The changes at The Phoenix don't stop with the newspaper staff.  I am proud to announce that as of September 5, The Phoenix will have a home on the web, www.gsuphoenix.com!  The website will have all of the great content that our print edition does, as well as additional features such as videos and blogs.  In addition, we will be updating the website with campus stories as they happen.  We are all very excited for the chance to report news to GSU students in the timely manner that the Internet will allow us to.  I would like to give a special thanks to Danyale Lucado, the former Editor-in-Chief of The Phoenix, for all of the hard work she put into making The Phoenix website a reality.

 All of us here at The Phoenix look forward to bringing GSU students news about their school.  Change is coming, and we will do our best to keep GSU students informed of what is happening on their campus.  We can't do it all on our own though.  We welcome student submissions and ideas at phoenix@govst.edu. We are, after all, the student newspaper.  We are here to give a voice to the student body.  Let your voice be heard! 

Again, best wishes and much success to every GSU student this semester!