There is a common misconception that The Maroon is just a newspaper. However, it’s more than just a collection of news, features and opinions.

The true functions of The Maroon are as a mirror and a lamp. As our Code of Ethics states, we aim to accurately reflect the Loyola community as a whole in the news, features and opinions we publish and shine a light on the good ¬— as well as the evil — community members do.

To ensure this happens, we discuss everything we publish as an editorial board to ensure that each story and opinion within the paper reflects the Loyola community accurately.

The diversity of both Loyola and New Orleans at large makes it difficult for anyone to remain truly informed on every issue, often to our detriment. Remaining in our own ideological bubbles stops us from coming to know, understand and empathize with people substantially different from us. We must strive to make a profound effort to question our own perspectives and values on a daily basis so that we may educate ourselves and clarify social issues that are often challenging, even painful, to consider.

It is not the place of any unbiased media body to endorse one position over another. It is our job to present different perspectives of issues concerning the community we serve so that we can all engage in a thoughtful dialogue about these topics of controversy.

This is where The Maroon’s role as a mirror and a lamp ends and all of ours, as members of the Loyola community, begins. In The Maroon we hope to inform, entertain and give community members the forum to make themselves heard, but it is ultimately up to the readers to use that forum for good.