Dear NYU Shanghai community and readers, First, let me introduce myself; my name is Ben Haller and I’m the new editor-in-chief of On Century Avenue (OCA). I admittedly have big shoes to fill taking over from Allie, last year’s editor-in-chief, but I’m very grateful for this opportunity. While I’m an economics major, journalism has always been one of my greatest passions. In the past, I was a staff writer for OCA’s op-ed section and covered politics for La Pietra Dialogues at NYU Florence. I have also written articles published in Reason Magazine and Newsweek. These experiences have given me an immense appreciation for the journalistic profession and its importance in stimulating productive discussions. I hope OCA continues to serve this purpose at NYUSH and I’m excited to see where we can take the paper this year. On Century Avenue is dedicated to more than just covering school events. We also strive to investigate issues pertinent to the student body, whether it be problems with the dorms, cafeteria, administrative transparency, etc. If there’s an issue at the school you feel is not being properly addressed, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to simply bring more attention to it, and OCA can help with that. While we have our own staff writers, we always welcome submissions from students not regularly involved in OCA. News stories, feature profiles, Shanghai event coverage, editorials, photojournalism, study-away stories, and podcasts are all just some of the things you can submit to us. No past journalism experience is required to submit. OCA can help get you published and build up your experience. On one final note, OCA is committed to reflecting the values and voices of our diverse community. This means we try to publish a diverse set of viewpoints, sometimes including those that many might disagree with. The goal is to foster healthy discussions among students grounded in mutual respect. If someone publishes an opinion you do not agree with, we encourage you to submit your own in response. We are always open to hearing your thoughts. I hope you all enjoy the first issue of the school year, and I look forward to seeing your submissions. Best, Ben This article was written by Benjamin Haller. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: OCA stock photo