On Jan. 23, we published our first print edition as the 136th Editorial Board. Today — over 600 articles later — we are publishing our final print edition of the semester.
In the hundreds of thousands of words we have published since the beginning of our tenure, we have tried to capture the Brown community for all that it is. We are a community shaken by grief, still reeling from the unimaginable violence that shocked our campus on Dec. 13, 2025. But we are also a community defined by incredible joy and resilience.
At the beginning of the semester, our reporters spoke with friends and loved ones of Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov ’29 and Ella Cook ’28 to capture their memories and lasting impact on College Hill. We learned of their kindness, courage and curiosity. Covering the University memorial service in February, we were again reminded of their loyalty, humility and love.
We also aimed to hold the University accountable for its commitment to keep our campus safe. We spoke with staff about shooting preparedness and found that dining services employees felt underprepared for an active shooter incident. We broke the news of former Brown Police Chief Rodney Chatman’s separation from the University, and offered the first insights into Police Chief Hugh Clements’s plans in the position.
We’ve documented the community’s journey toward healing after Dec. 13 through the Brown Ever True campaign, memorialization efforts and students’ difficulties accessing support services.
Amid the heaviness, our community found moments of levity and light, which we documented in countless ways, including a snow day photo essay, articles on our campus’s newest furry friends and a project on platonic love. We’ve shared the stories of star athletes, groundbreaking researchers and famous campus visitors. And our Data Desk may have helped you pick your next on-campus home.
We’ve also brought you tales from outside the Van Wickle Gates — covering everything from post-graduate prospects at the Rhode Island School of Design to crime and activism in Providence and beyond.
In our opinions section, the editorial page board has been debating issues from the future of higher education to the removal of President Christina Paxson P’19P’MD’20 as chair of University faculty meetings. And our columnists have written pieces on the value of student government, women’s sports at Brown and why you should call your grandparents.
As the sun has started showing its face again and we head into our first real finals period in a year, we are looking forward to celebrating (and reviewing) Spring Weekend and soaking in some of our Arts & Culture editors’ favorite new tunes.
It has been an incredible semester of keeping the Brown community informed. We will continue to do so over the summer, and we can’t wait to return to our beloved newsroom home in the fall.
Editors’ notes are written by The Herald’s 136th Editorial Board: Cate Latimer ’27, Ciara Meyer ’27, Claire Song ’27, Elise Haulund ’27, Hadley Carr ’27, Paul Hudes ’27 and Max Robinson ’26.5
