Dear Readers,
This year, we’ve had the privilege to serve as Co Editors-in-Chief for The Catalyst. Our goal for the year was to revamp and renovate our paper to have all elements represent the incredible work our reporters, artists and editors do weekly. We started with design changes, including a new logo by one of our artists, Nora Johnson ‘28. Our other design priority has been updating our website to offer readers a new digital experience, which we plan to complete in the coming weeks. Beyond design, we continue to be a place where students can find community through mentorship, weekly meetings and open communication. Any member of the Colorado College community is encouraged to reach out to us via email, the tip form on our website or during our weekly meetings on Thursdays (12:30 p.m. at 1028 N Weber).
Earlier this fall, we received a donation that will allow us to continue funding long-form reporting and investigations. While Cutler Publications funds The Catalyst, additional donations and advertisements allow us to support our writers and editors. Public free media has come under attack this year under the Trump administration, and journalism remains critical to maintaining democracy and informing the public on issues that impact them. As student journalists, we have a responsibility to hold governing associations accountable for their actions and their community impact. This year, we published multiple articles doing just that: holding our school administration accountable in the best interest of our college community. Our goal remains to uplift our community and offer a platform for unheard voices.
In the past, Editor-in-Chiefs’ tenure ended after Block 4, and incoming EICs transitioned over Block 4 and Winter Break, starting their tenure in January. However, earlier this fall, in accordance with the Cutler administrative team, we considered extending our tenure another semester. All other EIC tenures under Cutler’s advisement run for an academic year rather than a calendar year, leaving The Catalyst as the sole publication with EICs transitioning between Blocks 4 and 5. After careful consideration and multiple conversations with our editorial board, we decided to stay on for another semester.
Our hope for our paper is to continue producing high-quality articles and informing our campus community. By standing for another semester, we hope to stabilize role transitions and effectively continue the work we started this year. We hope to continue reaching our long-term goals of growing this publication and reaching every corner of the Colorado College community.
The Catalyst wouldn’t be possible without our contributors and editorial board, and we are immensely grateful for our staff’s hard work. We are honored to lead you all and excited for the semester ahead. We are here for you, our community. If you have any questions, concerns, contributions or general thoughts feel free to reach out to either of us.
Happy reading! The Catalyst will return on Jan. 23, 2026.
Sincerely,
Lilly Asano and Tessa Frantz
Co Editors-In-Chief