Dear readers,

Your stories will soon be set in the bustling streets of New York City — and your commute will resemble the one shown above. As you begin to recognize faces around the Village and discover your go-to study spots, the pandemonium of attending college in a metropolis will start to die down. And maybe, some of our editors’ recommendations can help along the way. 

Life in the city is undeniably overwhelming, and New York’s cultural chaos doesn’t stop when you enter your classrooms and dining halls. When faced with constant noise and a never-ending news cycle, it can be hard to filter through everything you hear. That’s why factual, reliable and fair journalism is critical to keep tabs on the world around you. 

For more than 50 years, Washington Square News has served as an information hub for the NYU community by offering ethical — and entirely independent — reporting. As a student-run publication, WSN strives to serve the students, faculty and families who want to understand the many facets of NYU’s undertaking. Whether you’re curious about Greenwich Village’s latest art gallery or the protest you walked by in Washington Square Park, WSN’s staff works tirelessly to keep you in the loop.

Welcome Home is WSN’s first Under the Arch issue of the academic year. Designed as a resource for incoming students, the magazine features guides and personal accounts about everything from the best local restaurants to hidden histories around NYU’s campus. From Bobst Library to the Philippines, writers, photographers, illustrators and editors work on this issue throughout the summer. While we find ourselves missing the newsroom — and a common time zone — we do it because we strive to serve our readers in every possible way. In this case, that means offering our recommendations to students like you.

This year’s Welcome Home issue would not have been possible without Multimedia Editors Kyra Reilley and Allina Xiao, whose illustrations brought our stories to life. A special thanks to Photo Editor Alex Woodworth and Creative Director Julia Smerling for lending their photography expertise to the cover shoot and featured photos. Thank you to Lauren Ng, Krish Dev, Anjali Mehta and Sidney Snider for their editorial contributions, and especially to Ella Sabrina Malabanan, our one-person copy team who fact-checked the issue. Your work does not go unrecognized.

Finally, WSN thanks you for your support. We hope that this issue inspires you to explore your new home, and maybe invite some of your welcome week friends along for the ride. You never know who might stick around.

Welcome home,