Letter from the Editor

Hello everyone!

How does one even begin to introduce themselves in an editor’s letter? I have no idea, and this job didn’t come with a how-to manual, so I’m just trying to figure this out as we go along. If I’m being honest, I spend 95 percent of my day thinking that same thing about the rest of my life. Phrases like “I have no idea” “What am I doing right now?” and “Oh no, what’s happening?” occupy a significant portion of the non-stop inner monologue running through my mind every day.

That said, if there’s anything the stories in this issue have shown me, it’s that everyone is trying to overcome one struggle or another. So, if you need a quick reminder that you’re not the only one who’s been hopelessly lost this midterm season, read on to find out more.

Beginning on page 6, get a look into the difficulties of eating in Miami’s dining halls with a food allergy. Following that, on page 8, see how one of our writers got out of her comfort zone while studying abroad.

Think I sound like completely confused just based on the opening to this letter? Check out my “NaNoWriMo Diary” on page 10, and read about my (only slightly insane) attempt to write a book in a month. And on page 18, we profile how one Spanish professor overcame obstacles to become a teacher.

Struggling to figure out what to get for breakfast now that the Maple Street Starbucks is gone? Our scene section has you covered. Check out our list of alternative morning coffee options while the new Starbucks is under construction and our profile on Dough-Versity, the new place in town for donuts, on pages 19 and 20, respectively.

Plan your next fall weekend activity with our guide to all things fall on page 22. Then, check out our photo story on page 24 to de-stress with some adorable photos of Oxford’s dogs.

Moving on, if you need a little more spook in your life to take your mind off the struggles of midterms, check out our line-up of the Halloween movies that Freeform SHOULD be playing on page 28. After that, find out what the heck your zodiac sign actually means on page 30.

In sports, read about the athletics department’s partnership with the Myaamia Tribe to promote Myaamia heritage.

Finally, our opinion section is full of thoughts on some struggles many people face every day, from the serious (voter ID laws, student debt and civil discourse) on pages 35, 36 and 37 to the silly (are Pokémon being mistreated?) on page 38.

If you’re holding this magazine right now, I must have somehow figured out enough of this whole Editorin-Chief thing to put an issue together. I can promise you, though, I didn’t do it alone: there is a fantastic group of editors, writers, designers, photographers, and business manager behind me, and this issue would NOT have come together without all of the effort and hard work they put into it. Because of that, I am super pumped to share this issue of MQ (and all the rest this year) with you guys, our readers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Have a fantastic fall and spooky Halloween,

Kelly McKewin