By Sarah Hart

Dear Friends…

This is it: one last Apollos message from yours truly. I’ll try to make it worth your while.

Way back in December 2014, nearly two years ago to the day, I met with Cathy Dove and asked her to approve a project: a publication that would broadcast the voices and views, art and accomplishments, and news and opinions of our community. We needed it desperately – those very words were probably part of my pitch. We needed it for morale, and to discuss difficult issues, and to build unity and pride in our community. Without hesitation, Cathy approved it.

And in doing so, she took a risk; A risk that the previous administration, to whom I’d also made my pitch more than once, had deemed not worth the possible fall-out. What if negative things were said? What if grievances were aired? What if our dirty laundry was glimpsed by the public at large – wouldn’t it be bad for the college?
But Cathy took the risk – and I believe most of us (at least, most of us who actually read our beloved little publication!) would say it worked out quite well. In the two years since it was launched, The Apollos has grown, thrived, and it has been, I say with confidence, a positive force in of our community.

But this is not because negative things didn’t come up. Indeed, they did. We have published critiques of the college, revelations of problems in our campus culture, and heart-wrenching stories that describe the personal agony of some of our community members. However, it’s those pieces – the difficult ones – that we are most proud of because in airing them, we have seen our mission most fully fulfilled. We have been a catalyst allowing members of our community to find confidence and power in their voices, and we have stirred forces of positive change on our campus.

Now, The Apollos is entering a new chapter. The veteran editorial team and some new members, including Andy Johnstone as managing editor, will, I am certain, grow on what has been good and take The Apollos into new and exciting territory.

And it is a new chapter for me as well. Working on The Apollos has been an intensely rewarding experience – I am especially grateful to have been able to work with my student colleagues and to have been able to do work here that I believe in so passionately. But my time at PSC has helped me realize that I want to focus now more explicitly in the realm of diversity, inclusion, and inter-cultural communication work. And maybe even do more writing of my own…

I am sad to be leaving this community, but it has been a wonderful five years. A good friend gave me some advice recently which I’ve found useful in guiding through these uncertain times. Since I am leaving, I get to indulge in a bit of parting wisdom, right? Here goes: Picture yourself (my friend said to me, and I say unto you) in twenty years’ time… Picture the you who has successfully navigated whatever choppy waters you are experiencing; the you whose issues are resolved, and aspirations achieved. You can imagine this person. Now, let that person – or say we imagine at a bigger scale: say we imagine our future country, community, or college – let that entity guide your choices now. Do what she would do, say what he would say; be now, as we would want to be then. Those are the right risks to take. Do the right thing. Do it boldly. That is how the future we want to see comes to be.

Sarah Hart

Sarah Hart is the former managing editor of The Apollos, read her full bio here!