Dear Reader,

My name is Abbey Saucedo, and I have the honor of serving as the Editor in Chief of The Echo for the 2024-2025 academic year. As the semester begins, I would first and foremost like to thank you for your continued readership of The Echo. Your support for student journalism impacts not only our staff and reporters, but the entire California Lutheran University community as well. 

I’d say it’s an interesting time to be a student journalist, but when hasn’t it been? Student journalists are the primary witnesses to matters within higher education, serving as the bridge between various facets of their campus communities. Much like local, national, and global news outlets, student publications are a vital aspect of connection and transparency. College journalism is not only essential for students, but for the overall health of their universities as well. 

Cal Lutheran has experienced more than its fair share of change over the past four years. In the past few months alone, the university has seen significant changes in our campus community, including the hiring of a new interim university president. Students, faculty, staff, and community members have all felt the impact of these changes, and as a result, an air of uncertainty seems to have found its place on campus.

One thing, however, remains constant. Since 1961, The Echo has consistently upheld the values of journalistic integrity in its mission to deliver timely, accurate, high-quality journalism to the Cal Lutheran community. Today, our top priority remains the same.

Guided by the goals of truth, objectivity, accuracy and fairness, my staff and I intend to not only maintain this standard but to also build upon it in an effort to expand The Echo’s reach into new, forward thinking mediums of information sharing. 

Good journalism is the antidote to uncertainty. As we move into this new chapter of Cal Lutheran’s history, know that The Echo is here to provide that antidote.

We look forward to serving you this year, thank you for your continued support.

Abbey Saucedo
Editor in Chief