By now, nearly all Lakers are back on campus at Grand Valley State University. New students are nervous about their first set of classes, returning students are working hard for the motivation to get back in the swing of things and those in the middle are probably doing a mixture of the both.

We at the Lanthorn would first of all, like to welcome students new and old to campus. We are looking forward to a year full of innovation, excitement and getting to know the 2016-17 Laker population. Here’s to the upcoming football games, family weekends and exam crams. We’ll be with you the whole way, keeping you in the loop. So, before we get this year started, here’s a little bit about us: 

To start things off, our motto at the Lanthorn is “give light and the people will find their own way.” This is a paraphrase from Dante’s “Purgatory,” and represents the beacon of knowledge and news the Lanthorn strives to be for the GVSU community. 

We look to take the news happening around us and distribute it to students, faculty and staff. Whether it comes in the form of sports coverage, breaking news or student club profiles, the most important part of our newspaper is the people who make it up–the Laker community. 

The Lanthorn staff also strives to be as transparent in our work as possible. As part of this effort, we hold weekly office hours where anyone can come in, chat with our editors and grab a cup of coffee. This is a great time to pitch story ideas, learn more about what we do and give us feedback on the paper. This year, our office hours will be every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. Make sure to stop by the Lanthorn office (0051 Kirkhof Center) and let us know how we’re doing.

If you can’t make it in during our office hours, we also have a very active social media presence. If you contact us through our Facebook or through our Twitter @GVLanthorn, we will be sure to get back to you. These social media platforms are also a great way to stay tuned in with what is going on around campus. In addition to our twice-weekly print publications, we will post breaking news and other content through these platforms. If you miss out on grabbing a print copy of our papers, we also have an electronic replica version available on our website, www.lanthorn.com. We also have Snapchat and Instagram accounts (GVLanthorn) where you can find even more news and take part in free giveaways for prizes. 

Each week, the Lanthorn team will provide the GVSU community with all the most important news to know in our print editions, published Monday and Thursday. No matter where you’re reading the Lanthorn, make sure to keep up with all the happenings on campus throughout the year. 

We’re glad you’re back, Lakers, and can’t wait to cover all the new and exciting things you’ll get up to this year!