Publisher's Notes: The Launch

The soft murmur of the crowd fell silent last Wednesday in the Democracy Center, 45 Mt. Auburn, as Pfoho’s Anna Resnick took center stage. Scantily clad in a two-piece outfit – leaving her abdomen and back exposed – Anna presented herself to guests at The Voice launch event with a smile on her face from ear-to-ear.

I looked to community relations director Catherine Chuter for my cue to hit the play button on the sound system. As soon as the music started, Anna fearlessly broke into dance, in a way my untrained eye knows only to associate with belly dancing.

Anna is a member of the Harvard College Middle Eastern Dance Company, which weekly offers two classes on belly dancing with the aim of spreading cultural awareness. Like many others’, Anna’s voice – that is, her ability to share her interests and passions with others – often remains unheard in our community.

That’s where we come in.

Guided by your input on the website and via e-mail, our editorial staff are producing – by Herculean efforts – an innovative weekly newspaper, released every Thursday. We need your input, though, to make The Voice as good as it can possibly be, and as in touch with what you want as we can make it.

Everyone has a voice, and we want to help you make yours heard.

Sign up today as a registered user, e-mail us to start blogging, and share your ideas, interests and concerns – in written, video or picture form – with other readers and users of The Voice website.

The idea of exposing one’s mind so openly to others, at times, is daunting. I, for one, am no stranger to feeling vulnerable and lost in the disorienting fray of classes, relationships, extracurriculars and whatever else life has a tendency of throwing at us. But in that, I think, lies the value and daring of sharing our thoughts, ideas and experiences: we are not alone.

Inside you’ll find an investigative feature by Emily Cregg on mental health (or lack thereof) at Harvard. Weeks ago she and I talked extensively about her deeply personal experiences, and we came to the conclusion that sharing them with others is inherently valuable.

Inspired by hers and Anna’s daring to raise their voices in our community, I hope you’ll find the courage to do the same.

Thanks, and stick with us.