Now cometh the end, my last semester at university. As I draw to the end of my degree I have too many thoughts to express in so short a space.

The modern university is a place of great potential, but also rife with problems and challenges. The de-personalised nature of much of the teaching can, at times, make one feel alone or irrelevant and too many people fail to engage with their degrees properly, coming like me, from the low quailty British eductation system.

I have, nonetheless, enjoyed my degree (English Liturature and History) a lot, and I would recommend it to someone thinking of taking it, if they wish to approach it with enough passion and insight to draw their own meaning from the teaching and content.

Portrait of editor James Roberts seated outdoors.
Photograph: Kas Bayat

Our University is dealing with many difficulties, some of which you will read about in this edition. From my perspective these have only been an opportunity. Students and staff seem to have re-awakened a sense of their own position within our wider insititution. In a world suffering from increased anti-intellectualism, we (those who strive to learn) have relearned that we must stand up for ourselves. Thus, commentary and reporting on Univerity affairs have gained a renewed interest.

You may have missed our last edition as it was only online, our budget does not cover a fourth print edition for the first semester (blame our illustrious Students’ Union, that seems to think Tik Tok is the only medium of communication). We will not be in print again until towards the end of this term.

We will, however, be producing digital editions until that time, and we will be active on social media, especially on Instagram. Follow us on there to recive campus news and other student content.

I want to say thank you to Dr Daisy Dixon, who agreed to speak to us on a range of subjects, including her recent dealings with X and her career as a female academic.

This is a bumper, 32 page, edition with the largest news section in years, it is a great testament to the effort and dedication of our team. From section heads to proofreaders, from news writers to designers, I am so proud of what we have achieved, and our increased impact on the student community.

If you are interested in getting involved in Gair Rhydd, email me at editor@gairrhydd.com.

We are always looking for news writers as we build upon our successes in the last few months, re-establishing our paper as a source of original, cmapus centred news. You do not have to be experienced, the only requirements are passion and a drive to inform and get to the truth.

Thank you for reading, and...

Gair Rhydd Am Byth!

Follow us on Instagram @gairrhydd