Editors' Note

Dearest Readers,

As the newest visionaries of Towerview Magazine, we would like to say “welcome” to the 14th volume of what we hope is becoming a celebrated Duke tradition. Like the hundreds of stories that have circulated in Towerview’s past, we hope those tucked beneath the pages before you feel like more than just words on a page, ink to fill the magazine, ways for us, our writers and our photographeres to get our names printed underneath a big “T.” And like the many editors before us, we hope our creative interpretation of the magazine—the pieces we choose to publish, our photographs, our themes—have you waiting in anticipation for each issue to come.

Many begin their editorial stint by outlining everything it is they hope to improve, even change, about their publication. They make specific promises to their readers about content, quality, expectation, and surprise—and sometimes they even live up to those vows. But volume 14 has bigger fish to fry. Although increasing readership and building reputation are inevitable challenges for any magazine, Towerview has faced these obstacles in recent years more than ever. We are the only independent, student-run magazine that packages in-depth news coverage, thought-provoking student perspectives and off-beat creative writing into a single, tangible product, yet we vie for the eyes and attention of the Duke community, who look for news and perspective elsewhere—in other campus publications and beyond Duke. Today, we can access Time, The New Yorker and even The Economist with the touch of a button (on the computer or on our smart phones). Why read about what Duke students have to say, when we can so easily learn from professionals and academics around the world?

To solve this larger problem of readership and reputation then, we will make one promise that we hope to fulfill: to reinstate the student voice with confidence and as something of value. There is also something to be said for publishing stories that discuss the constant themes that underlie our lives as students, faculty and staff. Why not portray the narratives right here in front of us?

We hope this magazine will spark Duke-generated dialogues across campus—from the freshmen on East Campus to the scientists on Research Drive—because despite our diverse interests and occupations, we are all connected by that signature Duke blue.

Designed to take the reader on a campus tour of quirky and compelling short stories and features, we hope this issue keeps you coming back to Towerview for monthly inspiration, intellection stimulation or just a small break from your busy days.

Matthew Chase and Sonia Havele