Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up the 36th issue of AWOL’s magazine. We appreciate everyone who takes the time to engage with the work our staff produces.

AWOL is dedicated to covering American University’s campus through a critical, subversive and irrepressible lens. Our cover story, written by Francisco Rodriguez, examines the different ways students get their information on campus, including the impacts popular social media accounts have on the campus news ecosystem. Ben Ackman wrote a story investigating the end of AU’s first year advising program, and Grace Manson covered Wesley Seminary’s plans to construct housing open to AU students. The Ripped from the Wall team produced a pod- cast episode looking at AU’s study abroad program. Finally, our multimedia team investigated food access and sustainability on campus for our newest documentary, “A balanced plate?”

But the world doesn’t stop at AU’s campus, and as always, the magazine also takes a look at what’s happening in Washington. Sydnee Patak covered community members’ efforts to preserve historic Black cemeteries in the district. Vanessa Levins put together a photo essay on the National Cathedral’s unique grotesques. And in “Grounded in coffee,” Will Sytsma reported on a culture of third-wave coffee shops and pop-ups emerging across the city.

Working alongside AWOL’s staff has been an absolute joy, and I am so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together. I want to thank our wonderful staff for their time, effort and hard work. I owe a special thank you to every producer, editor and director, whose dedication has made all of this possible. The community I have found here means the world to me, and I’m so excited to see what is next for AWOL.

Finally, I want to thank you, the reader, for reading, watching and listening to our work. We hope it helps you better understand the communities around us.

All the best,

Alexia Partouche

Read the online edition of the magazine here.