250 issues over the span of a decade. If there is a test of time, The Gazelle has withstood it. Amidst an evolving campus culture and ever-changing global events, we have to ask ourselves as a publication: what voices do we center? In our unique position as an independent student publication, a lot is at stake, and while this statement has been some time in the making, The Gazelle has remained steadfast in its commitment to constructive local and global discourse.

In the past three months, The Gazelle has continued to face questions about its relevance and scope on an increasingly busy campus. Even so, we have reported on a host of issues over the semester, including the transient campus reality to developments in Iran to crucial issues in the energy transition. COP28 happening in the UAE has spotlit exactly where our university stands in conversations about regional and global sustainability.

This discursive potential is precisely because, on a campus where approximately 2,000 students represent 120 nationalities, the global is inherently local. A crisis or conflict happening anywhere in the world reverberates throughout our community. Preconceived notions or stereotypes about members of other communities are a lot harder to uphold when a first-hand account can come from your suitemate, your classmate, your FYD facilitator. Such exchange of diverse dialogue exists to “produce knowledge in order to promote human understanding and better society,” as the NYU Abu Dhabi Mission states.

The Gazelle has reported on a host of global events over its impactful decade — we have reflected on the unique privilege and positionality of NYUAD students during the Covid-19 pandemic, shared heartfelt perspectives from Ukrainians, and journaled the aftermath of the coup in Myanmar. Throughout it all, The Gazelle has remained an arbiter of awareness. In recent weeks, we have addressed the constantly shifting socio-political landscape, from the displacement of ethnic Armenians and the expulsion of Afghan migrants and refugees in Pakistan, to a slew of political events including elections, bill submissions, and court rulings that have greatly altered the discourses around human rights issues.

Our commitment to representing the voices of NYUAD, and the real-life lived experiences that underpin them, extends beyond mere “discourse” or “politicization”. The lived realities occurring at the moment may not be happening on our little slice of the desert, but they are as real as today’s salmon at D2. In a world where silence often equals complicity, we must strive amidst any circumstances to foster a community where voices are heard, perspectives are valued, and experiences are recognized for what they are.

The values that our university was founded on include academic freedom, human understanding, and “global citizenship”. These tenets are not abstract concepts but are woven into the very fabric of the institution, shaping a global liberal arts community. Our silence on matters that affect the lives of those around us would not only be a disservice but show a direct contradiction of those founding ideals from the source of our silence. Despite recent hurdles in the current mediascape we have striven to ensure that The Gazelle remains a reliable platform encouraging thoughtful and critical engagement with the discourses unfolding on and off campus.

It is our responsibility throughout our issues to recognize that the stakes are high and approach them thoughtfully, recognizing the impact that we can have on students. Through the sharing of the multiple perspectives available to us at NYUAD, we can contribute to an empathetic and just culture in alignment with the vision that built both NYU Abu Dhabi and The Gazelle. The continued maintenance of such a platform is non-negotiable.