Hello UNB Saint John!

I am beyond excited to announce that our Fall semester print copy of The Baron is available around campus free of charge! Our newspaper can be found in the commons, in the pizzeria, the cafeteria, outside our office on the second floor of the Thomas J Condon Student Center, and scattered around campus. This is our third edition since beginning to print physical copies of our paper last year. I am beyond excited to continue this tradition that was started by our previous editor. Until last year, the Baron had not printed physical newspapers for a little over a decade, and I could not be happier that our students, staff, and faculty have been so enthusiastic and supportive of our return to print!

Bailey Young/The Baron

As a Canadian newspaper, we continue to battle Bill C-18 and our inability to post on social media. Despite the disruption of the way we advertise our new pieces, we have begun to explore some alternative ways of connecting with our audience. We now post daily on TikTok (@unbsj.thebaron). Thank you to everyone who has given us a follow, liked our posts, and a massive thank you to everyone who takes the time to visit our website and check out our articles.

Bill C-18 ultimately led The Baron back to a print copy which has been well received from the UNB Saint John community. The Baron is run by students, funded by students, and most importantly, we are FOR students. All of our articles are aimed towards student interests and concerns, and I can confidently say that our physical newspapers are a testament to that.

My first semester as Editor in Chief of the Baron has been such an amazing experience. Students, staff, and faculty have been so welcoming as I entered my new role. But most of all, my fantastic staff at the Baron has motivated, challenged, and supported me in so many different ways.

Our incredibly talented writing team has produced some truly impressive work this semester and I hope you all enjoy reading their articles in our print as much as I have. This paper would not be possible without them. Their dedication has both awed and inspired me.

I want to give a shoutout to all of those who contributed in some way or another to our paper this semester: Isabelle Fleming, Tyler Williams, Bailey Young, Claire Bentley, Jonathan Bruce, Matthew Heans, Melanie Clark, Khushi Chauhan, Paige Fletcher, Elizabeth Williamson, Abigail Legacy, Kayla Dela Cruz, Ridhima Dixit, Sarah Harrigan, and Will Foley.

As a fun initiative, the Baron staff and I have decided our mascot needs a name and we want YOU to decide! If you scan the QR code in the comic strip below, it will take you to a form where you can vote on one of five names chosen by the Baron staff for our mascot:

Elizabeth Williamson/The Baron

We will announce the chosen name in our next print in April!

Also, keep an eye out in January for a new event we will be introducing called Breakfast with the Baron where students can come hang out in the Baron office, enjoy some coffee and snacks, and discuss article topics and all things student journalism with our staff and myself!

Just as a reminder, today is our last day of publication for the semester as it is the last day of classes (December 6th), but we will be back at the start of winter term! If you want to reach out over the break, feel free to email me at editor@thebaron.ca.

Happy Holidays UNB Saint John and best of luck on your exams!

Kylie Mackenzie, EIC.