Editors' Welcome

Dear readers,

Welcome to our spring 2021 magazine! This semester, we wanted to focus on the feelings of coming home. As the vaccine rollout begins and students return to Gainesville once again, it feels as though we are coming home and returning somewhat to a sense of normalcy. From a review of 4th Ave Food Park to a list of COVID-safe activities to partake in around Gainesville, we wanted to offer some of our readers a taste of what the city has to offer.

This year has been a challenge as PRISM’s staff has adapted to a virtual format, and I want to thank every member of our staff for the hard work they have put in for both our magazine and our online content. Specifically, I’d like to thank Soumya Kona for the amazing work she’s done to bring PRISM together stylistically. This is by far one of our most cohesive and beautiful magazines thanks to the work Soumya has done to create a consistent brand and design sense.

I joined PRISM three years ago not expecting to do anything more than contribute to design but being Editor-in-Chief has been such a rewarding role that I am happy I got to experience. Even though communication is limited over Zoom, I am so grateful I was able to interact with new and old staff members in a greater capacity than I was able to previously. While a pandemic did throw a wrench in many of our conventions, I am proud of everyone’s adaptability as we faced the many challenges.

Thank you to everyone that reads this magazine, and thank you, PRISM, for being such rewarding experience of my undergraduate career.

Sincerely,

Erin McLoughlin

This semester, coming back to Gainesville was a very different experience for many of us. Some of us were fully online, and some had a few in-person classes, but even those came with restrictions. Yet even with everything going on in the world, coming home to Gainesville is a special experience, especially as we take the first steps toward returning back to normal classes and procedures. While we still have a ways to go, hope is ahead, and it is something we wanted to highlight in this edition of PRISM. This homecoming was especially meaningful to me, as this semester marked my last one living in Gainesville and attending the University of Florida. Being a graduating senior meant that every experience in Gainesville during these past few months was one I treasured, and I hope this magazine conveys all the exciting aspects of returning to Gainesville, the university, and our Honors Program.

Also, as I depart from UF and from being co-Editor-in-Chief of PRISM, I want to extend my final thanks to all those involved with this publication. Thank you, reader, for choosing to explore our magazine. Thank you to every member of the PRISM staff. You have all been so brilliant and dedicated during this strange academic year, and the magazine would not be the same without any of you. Thank you to all the members of our e-board: Soumya, Joyce, Sofia, Nazli, Noah, Grace, Miranda, and Catherine. You have all been a pleasure to work with, a joy to know, and your assistance and hard work have created an incredible magazine. PRISM is only as well-written and aesthetically beautiful as it is thanks to all of your efforts. A special shout-out to Soumya and Joyce as they lead PRISM into this next year—I know it will be amazing! Thank you to my Co-Editor-in-Chief, and fellow senior, Erin McLoughlin. Thank you Erin for being such a wonderful person, and for being an incredible co-EIC. Managing the magazine is no small task, and collaborating with you has made it a genuine pleasure. Thank you again, and good luck at law school! Thank you also to the Honors Office, and to Dr. Law and Dr. Johnson for your unwavering support of PRISM over the years. Finally, thank you to PRISM. When I was a freshman beginning as a staff writer, I could never have imagined that I would have the blessing and privilege of serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of PRISM for two years. Thank you PRISM for being such a meaningful part of my undergraduate experience—for giving me a community, and making me a better writer, editor, and leader. Go PRISM, and go Gators!

Sincerely,

Hannah Calderazzo