Welcome to an abbreviated, digital version of the Trinitonian. When we first sat down and discussed what would go into this issue before Spring Break, we imagined it would be a short and sweet back-to-school edition. There wasn’t any big breaking news, there were a couple of bigger stories we were working on that we decided to push, and we had a lot of nice, easy, evergreen content.

And then last week happened. And as the news of the coronavirus outbreak and the university’s subsequent announcement of dorm closures and online classes upturned every facet of student life, it also created chaos for its newspaper.

The Trinitonian has been Trinity’s independent, student-run paper for more nearly 120 years. And, at least in recent years, it’s always kinda worked the same. In-person meetings, in-person interviews, in-person passing out the papers out and getting feedback from community members. For years we’ve had a dedicated staff that all lived within the same two-mile radius of each other. Now, our staff is halved, and we’re working cities apart, but we’re still just as dedicated.

We feel compelled to continue our work because there’s never been a time when student-edited publications have been more important or more necessary. Though you’re living miles and miles away from your roommates, your professors and the sound of the Murchison Tower, our community has never been more connected.

We’re here to serve you, to inform you, to represent you. No other local, regional or national newspaper can serve the Trinity community like we do. And we need your help.

We want to keep you up-to-date, so tell us what you want to know. We want to tell your story, so tell us about your experiences. We’re a place to advertise the books you’re selling or to look for a roommate for the fall. Tell us about a new hobby you’ve taken up or how hard it’s been for you to focus with online classes. You’re not alone.

And for now, enjoy what we have for you so far. The Trinitonian may not be in print for our last handful of issues, but we’ll be here, reporting and interviewing and giving you all the deets.