Editorial Staff

Fiat Lux is embroidered across our sweatshirts, boldly presented in the Alfred University seal, printed biweekly as the title of the very publication you are reading and what it stands for is our axiom here at Alfred. Yet an alarming number of fiat abiding citizens of Alfred know neither what the motto means nor how to pronounce it.

For all those new to AU or still phonically fumbling the university's motto, phonetically, Fiat Lux is pronounced fee-aht luhks. We the Fiaters of Alfred University hope this brief etymological editorial will enlighten you -- our faithful readers.

Approximately this time every year hallways begin to simmer with thoughtful reverence, and the regular visitors of Herrick Memorial Library begin to find new competition for their coveted window seats.

Professors may find that their time is faithfully winding down to those more lackadaisical of days. A welcome respite between the present and another prosperous future. One final push – then we are there.

The thing about news is the writing of it.

Byline after byline we scavenge for headlines. Eyes, ears, head, shoulders, knees and certainly toes are committed to the constant consumption of information. “That looks good,” we think.

“Maybe we should get it, but at what price?”

A good reporter scavenges with no concern for much other than that inglorious word: libel. Perhaps it can be described as the "news business" version of dysentery. Libel is rather likely to lead one towards unpleasant situations.

“So no, maybe not that article.”

Late March has arrived, and though we've had an unusually warm week, we'll inevitably receive more snow before the year is out. Plans are being laid for Hot Dog Day, comedians and concerts, parties, cookouts and graduation.

Though for some graduation is just another over-the-top ceremony that is months away, others of us are feeling the pressure of buying regalia, contributing to the senior initiative, guessing who will be the Outstanding Seniors and preparing to join the so-called "real world."

If there has been one recurring theme to the last few years of recurring problems for Student Senate, it’s been the AU Student Senate Constitution.

No document has aroused more passions, delayed more events and hindered the general happiness of the student population than this document. Consider that while you're just trying to find the Constitution on the Alfred website (and also when you've found that its out of date).

With Student Senate elections rapidly approaching, the editorial staff of the Fiat Lux found itself in a peculiar predicament. In some previous years, the staff not only covered all candidates, but also endorsed one in this section.

The current staff, however, has realized that there is something of greater importance regarding Student Senate nominations. That is, that we express to the community in general and the candidates specifically what it is that we are looking for in a Student Senate president and vice president.

In communication studies classes, students are taught a basic structure of communication that consists of source, message, channel and receiver. Another element of this basic structure is noise, or interference, between sending a clear message from the sender to the receiver.

“If you want a college degree that has value in 20, 30, 40 years, we must do these things,” President Edmondson said at the Nov. 18 Student Senate meeting, announcing that the University was planning to make some major program cuts.

Less than two weeks later, on Dec. 1, the Strategic Planning Council consisting of the University’s deans, vice presidents, six faculty members, two students and two staff members disseminated a proposal suggesting cuts to Modern Languages, Electrical Engineering and the ski team, among others.

For those who have forgotten or weren't here, Sonora's was a Mexican restaurant where the present Fox's Pizza Den is located.

Sonora's opened its doors in March 2008. The restaurant was not even open for a full year before the owners were forced to close Sonora's down because of water damage to the interior of the building. The damage originated on the third floor of the Village Center and slowly leaked down to their space on the first floor.

As the entire campus knows by now, on Thursday, Oct. 29, an early morning fire ravaged through two Alfred businesses and permanently displaced seven AU students, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.