Letter From the Editor

Gabriella Ronquillo ’26

Dear old (and new) readers,

My name is Gabriella Ronquillo, and I am excited to be the editor-in-chief of the Bardvark this year! For those of you who are just being introduced to the Bardvark or have been reluctant to write articles, I hope to share why you should write for Bard’s newspaper.

During my first two years at Bard, I was in awe of how well-written the articles were. Through the pages of every issue, I felt like I was entering a room in which students, who were secretly seasoned journalists, were having a conversation with each other, with each of the students’ thoughts being effortlessly clever, intellectual, and entertaining. Needless to say, I didn’t dare write for the Bardvark, nor did I think they would accept my articles about politics that weren't at the level of analysis of political commentators.

When I joined the Bardvark as the politics editor, it was inspiring to see how past editor-in-chief Clementine Kline enthusiastically supported and encouraged students during meetings (on Wednesdays). Not just by improving their writing stylistically, but also by strengthening their voice—something that you bring to the Bardvark. I realized that the Bardvark is not an exclusive, elite newspaper that only accepts professional level writing. Instead, it is a space for you to write about news or other stories that you care about. Reflecting on what I thought made the articles so special, I realized that all of them were about what that student was interested in and eager to discuss. In a world in which people are wary of how authentic and freely written journalism is, the Bardvark is empowering. By writing, you get to decide what the newspaper will look like. What makes you tick or makes you think will likely make others do the same. Every issue has inspiring, captivating articles because of how dynamic it is. On the same page of an October issue last year, I saw an article with book recommendations that match the fall atmosphere of pumpkin spice and sweaters, and I also saw another about the history of Baruch field. And so when I wrote my first article about Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption scandal, I received positive feedback for sharing my opinion on why there is a larger issue of inequitable funding in NYC education. 

This is all to say that the Bardvark is what you make it. No sports discussion in the Bardvark? You can write it! Have a love of theater? We want to hear it! If you even want to draw a cartoon or share photography, we now have an Illustrations editor to help.

So, why should you write for the Bardvark? It’s up for you to decide, and our editors will be there to support you in whatever step of the writing process you’re in. I am looking forward to all the amazing work we will accomplish. If you have any thoughts, ideas for upcoming issues, or questions, reach out to bardvark@gmail.com!

See you in the next issue,

Gabriella Ronquillo