COLIN MULLANEY / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This academic year, I’ve spent so much time in the newsroom that my phone now mistakenly believes it is “home,” and identifies it as such in all photos taken there. Over the past three years that I’ve worked at The USD Vista, I’ve lived in four or five locations across the world, so from that standpoint, it’s no wonder why my phone is confused, but I always had the newsroom — SLP 403B — to come back to. It’s been a homebase for all operations and activities, but what really makes it “home,” is the sense of belonging and community that can be found there.

Whatever topic you might be interested in writing and reporting about, it is here waiting for you to cover at The USD Vista, for the benefit of  future classes to come. Over the last three years, we’ve covered many topics under the sun: concerts, fires, theft and crime, national politics, celebrity deaths, geopolitics, major university milestones, TV series, theater productions, movies, book reviews — and even those weekly sports updates with Olivia Synek at 7 p.m. Whether you’ve applied to join next year’s staff, or just show up to SLP 403B any given Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. for pitch — maybe it will become your home next.

To all the past Exec members and staff of The USD Vista, who paved the way and served as an example for all that we’ve achieved this year; we couldn’t have done it without you.

Karisa Kampbell, who I have gotten to know first as my News Editor, then Editor-in-Chief and finally Director of Student Media Operations, it’s been a pleasure to work so closely with you as you climbed that ladder, and I’m lucky to have such a gracious boss and friend.

For this year’s Exec team: Abby Cavizo, Spencer Bispham and Maria Simpson, thank you for all that you’ve each taught me, and the serious effort that you’ve put into editing every single article of our 22 editions.

Abby, you are a formidable force in the world, and don’t ever forget it. I am sure that you’ll be traveling all over, so wherever you go, keep your time at The USD Vista in your heart.

Spencer, I admire your ability to be strong in your convictions and also open-minded to other peoples’ needs, both things you are consistently intentional about.

Maria, I always appreciate your diligent approach to what you set your mind to. As a fellow introvert, I am always so grateful for your contributions, because you are so thoughtful.

To our Section Editors: Anjali Dalal-Whelan, Katie Foreman, Satvika Nitya, Khushi Patel, Emma-Kate Squires and Lauren Ceballos, you have all been the best. We couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated and talented group to collaborate with weekly. Best wishes wherever you go next.

And for Jackie Marquez, the next Editor-in-Chief for the 24-25 academic year, I wish you all the luck in the world — even though you don’t need it. You already have everything that you need to do an excellent job, and I know you’ll be both a wise and level-headed EIC. Stay calm and collected, take the days as they come. You never know what a day at The USD Vista will bring to your inbox, but we wouldn’t put ourselves through it unless we knew that it had the possibility to incrementally impact the student audience we serve.

To the USD students, I’ve heard anecdotes from people who wallpaper their dorm room or apartment with our newspaper. On rainy days, I’ve even seen it used as an umbrella. By far the most gratifying  though  is to see students reading or carrying a copy in their hand between classes, or seeing prospective students pick it up on their tour of USD — their first introduction to campus life. We love to hear students discuss an article or story we wrote, without knowing that we’re listening in (which is always).

In whatever way The USD Vista has played a role in your life this past year, it’s been a pleasure. I hope that we’ve been able to loop you into what’s going on at USD, because this is your campus, and we strive to be your voice.

Our faculty advisor Gina Lew has many aphorisms which I’ve taken to heart and burned into my brain, including, “we’re nobody’s PR!” and “if it smells like s***, then it probably is.” But, in particular, Gina has reminded us before: “the stories never change. Only the names and the people change.”

This same principle of storytelling is also true about our very own organization, The USD Vista, which is approaching 60 years old. The names and the people working on staff at The USD Vista may change from year to year, but the story always stays the same: dedicated students working hard to foster a sense of community and engagement, both within our own Student Media organization — and out there, on USD’s campus.

My very best, 

Colin Mullaney, 

Editor-in-Chief 

2023-2024 

The USD Vista team for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Photo courtesy of Emily Leyva/USDtv