First Words

At the risk of sounding like a click-bait-y Internet headline about former child stars, do you wanna feel old?

If so, skip ahead to page 18! There you’ll meet four current students making their mark in the social media sphere—a world in which I, a card-carrying millennial active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok (TikTok!), considered myself pretty well versed.

A few conversations with these savvy students proved me wrong.

These students are using social media in ways I couldn’t have imagined back in 2004 when I made a Facebook account to poke my friends and update my status. They’re creating original, clever, insightful (and often very funny) content to connect with others who share their passions for fitness, video games, science and technology, social justice, and more. And the communities they’re establishing go far beyond surface-level likes and shares—especially in this age of social distancing, when connecting virtually is more important than ever.

I hope that after reading their stories, you’ll think a bit differently next time you see a group of Gen Zers glued to their iPhones. (And thanks to resident YouTuber Patrick Holt ’22 and his helpful guide to social media lingo on page 21, you may even understand what they’re talking about!)

Also in this issue: a peek at three of UC’s newest campus additions, some exciting advancement milestones, and the incredible story of sexual assault survivor turned advocate Kimberly Morton ’22, whose determination and drive will inspire you.

As always, tell me what you think of this issue via email at uticamag@utica.edu

Mary Donofrio, Editor