Editor-in-Chief Matthew Friedman responds to critiques of Student Life raised in a recent letter to the editor.

We will tell the stories of the Washington University community that need to be told, we will think carefully about how we can serve this community’s people and we will take challenges head on. We will do our duty as an independent news organization.

In addition to writing the editorial, we had one of what will be many serious conversations about Student Life as part of the Washington University community and the absolute privilege we possess as a wholly independent publication.

The Student Life website was updated to include our editorial policies as an independent publication on the Washington University campus today. Such policies inform our reporting and editorial decisions and reflect those of independent news organizations nationally.

In light of recent personal health issues, Emma Baker has joined me as co-editor-in-chief of Student Life.

The decision to capitalize Black comes from the expertise and advocacy of academics, activists and linguists. Black is not purely a descriptor, but an identity group as well.

Today Student Life published an op-ed titled “Known by name and number,” written by an anonymous Washington University student.

A letter from our editor-in-chief, Sam Seekings, responding to the backlash surrounding the article “It’s OK that conservatives don’t feel welcome.”

Today’s newspaper includes an op-ed piece titled “A letter to my rapist on his graduation,” written by an anonymous Washington University student.

Student Life typically does not permit submissions to be run anonymously, but due to the author’s personal connection to the events described, we have made an exception for this article.