Dear readers,
It has been my pleasure facilitating the production of campus news at CSUMB for my last year on campus. Being editor-in-chief is not a responsibility I take lightly; it was always my intention to produce stories that felt necessary, that answered the most-asked questions across our student body. I hope that rings true to you, not just our most valued readership, but those we share campus with.
On that note, I would like to show gratitude to the Monterey Bay student body. Thank you for your active participation in our work; every comment, like and message request contributed to our production process. In the debilitating attention economy, your eyes on our work day in and day out is not taken lightly.
Thank you for being patient with us as student journalists, most often, learning on the job. We are the only news outlet that covers our college campus exclusively, we are journalists in training and we make mistakes. These mistakes can be particularly disappointing as we navigate turbulent, incredibly frustrating times locally and internationally.
With that, I would like to say that, no matter what, our intention is to inform. As journalists, we are conservationists of democracy who value truth, wealth of knowledge and equitable access to information. In a media landscape plagued by censorship, artificial intelligence and manipulation, I hope our stories offered clarity in the chaos.
That responsibility is not one I could have taken on alone. To my staff members, thank you for everything. For your dedication to upholding truth. For trusting me with your precious ideas and allowing me to watch you grow as writers. You have become my family.
On that note, I want to use my last published piece with the Lutrinae to offer a glimpse into everything the newsroom has accomplished these past two semesters. I plan on doing so while giving credit where it’s most certainly deserved, to the wonderful people of the newsroom.
Upon graduating I could not be leaving the Lutrinae in better hands. Assistant Editor Eli Heck will be transitioning to editor in chief, with current Staff Writer Hailey McConnell accompanying him as assistant editor. Eli’s era of the Lutrinae comes with big ideas, one of which is returning to print after six years of digital publication, featured in the form of a seasonal physical magazine. The physical print product will serve as an addition to our standard weekly production across our website, Instagram and newsletters (The Weekly Current and Otter Chatter).
The idea came to be during our time at the California College Media Awards in San Francisco. Between reporting seminars and keynote speakers, team Lutrinae sat in cubicles over several cups of Philz Coffee, discussing how to turn our dream into a reality. There Eli Heck, Staff Writers Daisy Sanchez, Jocelyn Corona and Tom Nolan, Social Media and Business Manager Lindsey Ruiz and myself spent hours fleshing out our plan.
Once we got back to Monterey Bay, we spent the rest of the semester, less than 10 weeks, turning out the Lutrinae’s first ever digital magazine. Being first of its kind, our goal was to sort out as many formatting, design and creative questions as possible so print production next semester could run smoothly.
The outcome could not have been possible without consistently outstanding work from Production Designer Zoe Kapp and Illustrator Amanda Richman. Thank you both for hearing out the CCMA team and producing something truly one of a kind. Your work will live on long after you graduate, you should both be very proud.
Another large feat for team Lutrinae was the launch of our new website! At the start of last semester, I recall current Webmaster Liam Willey interviewing for the position. His honesty regarding the once serviceable, but not great website is what told me he needed to be on the team. Over a semester of work and several website production meetings later, the new and improved website was up and running. To Liam, your hard work does not go unnoticed. Thank you for always being honest with us, it’s what we need to grow.
And lastly, to our Faculty Advisor Dave Kellogg, thank you for your constant support. The 2025-2026 Lutrinae team was loud and bold with even louder and even bolder ideas that could have easily been passed off as improbable. Thank you for giving us the chance to think big and to entertain what we once thought impossible.
I can say with confidence that the Lutrinae will continue to grow beyond expectations. I am honored to be a drop in the evergrowing ocean of progress for our little newsroom; I hope my contributions ripple across future generations of the Lutrinae. Wave Hall forever.
With love,
Layna Hughes