I think it’s appropriate to begin the 2019-20 Georgia Southern school year with a letter to the GS community. This tradition of a letter from the editor to kick off the school year has stuck with The George-Anne for several years. We’re continuing the tradition because we feel, now more than ever, transparency is something the GS and Statesboro communities deserve.

The George-Anne student newspaper strives to deliver the most accurate, thorough and best overall coverage of all things GS and Statesboro. For some of you, this may be the first time reading our work and to that, I welcome you. For others, you may have been with us since we launched in 1927, to which I say welcome back. (If you’ve been following us for all 92 years please reach out so we can talk and get coffee.)

Though the campus hasn’t been fully open all summer and we haven’t released a print issue since April, we’ve stayed busy over the summer “vacation.” 

Beginning on graduation day, we covered the Statesboro commencement ceremonies  and provided updates on the survey results. More recently, President Kyle Marrero announced the  commencement plan will be released Sept. 1. 

We, as a GS community should take the time to remember Shomari Billings, an Eagle who drowned in Atlanta on Memorial Day.

In the sports realm, the biggest off the field news was Shai Werts’ arrest in July and our coverage was featured in the Washington Post.

Moving forward, we will continue to live out our motto that we haven’t used for a few years, “The George-Anne, covering the campus like a swarm of gnats.” Not only the GS Statesboro Campus, but also events and happenings in Bulloch County. 

From government meetings to football games across state lines, we want to be the go-to source for your news. Be sure to follow us on our social media (@TheGeorgeAnne on Twitter and The George-Anne on Facebook), subscribe to our newsletter and pick up a paper on Thursday. 

If there’s anything you think we should be covering, please let us know by emailing us at gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu or stopping by our office in the Williams Center. If you’re lucky, maybe we’ll let you play a game or two of table tennis.

Thank you for reading and continuing your support of student journalism. Have a great year everyone, let’s go. 

McClain Baxley, The George-Anne Editor-in-Chief, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu