On behalf of the staff of The Chronicle, Quinnipiac’s “once-legitimate” weekly, I would like to thank the News for raising awareness about our First Amendment woes. Yes, it has grown incredibly difficult to run a journalistic venture at Quinnipiac University, and, yes, things should definitely change. Soon.

But for now, we find ourselves in a tricky situation. Quinnipiac, just like any other college campus, needs a newspaper — to both inform and protect. And while the administration is making it difficult to get anything of worth out of their employees’ mouths, there is still a need for a newspaper. And we, the new staff of The Chronicle, plan on putting out just that.

Yes, the publisher and editor-in-chief do receive stipends, and so did former editor Jason Braff. So did all editors-in-chief before him. That is not the problem.

The problem is also not the obeisant and loyal students of Quinnipiac. There remains journalistic zeal on this campus, and we plan to do our job as best we can to provide truth.

We the department editors and staff writers are not paid to write, and not paid to be “loyal.” We have come together to try to face a challenge many still fear.

The Chronicle staff of last year branched off to do their own thing and as a student of pure journalism, I am proud to be even slightly connected to these bold journalists. To join a newspaper is one thing; to start one is another entirely. Yet the challenge remained to put out a printed newspaper at Quinnipiac. And I, the news editor, and all of the other editors and staff writers, took this challenge head on.

Let me be redundant for the sake of reiteration. Quinnipiac needs a newspaper on campus — one produced by the students. With a school of journalism growing in popularity and regard, it would be a disservice to every Quinnipiac student not to have one.

We few have stepped up to the plate. We may strike out; we may take a fastball to the head. But maybe, just maybe, we can put out quality journalism. It will not be easy, as Quinnipiac has asked every interview with a school official to be channeled through public affairs. It will not be easy, as face-to-face interviews with high-ranking officials are near impossible. It will not be easy, as we have already received from public affairs the advice to “send in questions.” They’ll get back to us eventually.

But we have the students — the core of this university. To not try would be giving an “F” to all of us.

Again, we extend our thanks to the News. We’ll be sure to send over our first issue.