ERIC BILACH

„THANKFUL FOR THE JOURNEY “ THANKFUL FOR THE JOURNEY

All too often, student organizations and on-campus clubs are dismissed as glorified social groups, devoid of a concrete purpose and unable to produce any significant impact. Moreover, the positions and leadership roles associated with these cooperatives are commonly overlooked, snubbed, and discredited as mere résumé filler by the community at large. I cannot speak for all clubs; however, if my year and a half as a staff writer and news editor has taught me anything, it is that such mendacity does not apply to The Campus magazine.

We, as the collective voice of the City College student body, have been an enduring journalistic force for well over a century. The Campus’ aim to provide objective, pertinent, and engaging content to our student, staff, and Harlem neighborhood audiences is what initially drew me to the team back in January 2019. The rush of quality and topical story ideas being bounced around our cozy office space during my first meeting was infectious and lead me to penning my first article on Super Bowl LIII shortly afterwards. In the subsequent fifteen months, I authored an additional eleven articles, ranging from historical (“At the Intersection of ‘Excellence’ and ‘Equity’” alongside opinion editor and good friend Matthew Romano) to contemporary (“2019 USG Election Voter Turnout: What Does it Signify?”), sports (“No Longer Just Ballpark Figures”) to professor spotlights (“From Hibbing to Harlem”), and light-hearted (“Horror Fiction Throughout the Ages”) to grave (“Coronavirus in the Face of Cultural Relativism”).

My joining The Campus was never limited to bolstering my experience or credentials—I

had stories to tell and the magazine provided me with the ultimate platform to convey them. The article I am proudest of, the aforementioned “Coronavirus in the Face of Cultural Relativism,” explores the anthropological idea of cultural relativism via conflicting global sentiments regarding the 2019 coronavirus outbreak. Writing this 1,400-word behemoth not only allowed me to establish a meaningful connection with my peers about such a pressing topic, but also demonstrated to me (perhaps more than ever) my sheer love and passion for the written word.

Writing is a uniquely pensive medium, one that is, to quote author Drew Perkins, “equal parts process and affection.” Being so naturally reserved, the pen has carried my voice far further than my own mouth ever could. Since

By Eric Bilach

1907, The Campus has served as a conduit for change both on campus and throughout the local community. Speaking from a personal perspective, that change has managed to trickle down to me as an individual, writer, and thinker. The Campus gave me the opportunity to openly express myself and inform all of you about the subjects I felt were intriguing, relevant, and, most importantly, worth your time. I hope you, my peers, will follow in my footsteps—we all have our own stories to tell, thoughts to present, and wisdom to impart.

At this juncture, I am unsure what lies ahead of me. In these times of great uncertainty, it is best to reflect on positive memories and look forward to the bright potential the future has in store. For me, those positive memories include The Campus and our mission to shape our surroundings one word at a time. No matter where I go, what I become, or what I achieve, I will always have The Campus to thank for affording me the luxury to communicate with all of you about the wild world around us. I also want to thank former editor-in-chief (EIC) Katie Herchenroeder for bringing me aboard almost a year and a half ago, as well as current EIC Celia Tsampas for trusting me with overseeing the magazine’s news content these past two semesters. It has been a tremendous journey and I am grateful to have spent it with all of you.