Dear readers,

Welcome to the Apocalypse. 

When we chose the theme for this year’s edition of Circuit, we weren’t just thinking about zombies (though you’ll find plenty of those). We were thinking about the current, fragile and catastrophic state of our world. The deportations, the potential fall of the Department of Education, the attacks on our freedom of speech, the list goes on. In the spirit of embracing the horror of it all, we thought it was about time we ask the questions: What happens when things fall apart? Who do we become in the face of it? And what do we cling to when everything else slips away?

You’ll find answers here in the form of survival guides, stories of nightmares and demons, true tales of an unfolding apocalyptic political landscape, and horoscopes to give you a glimpse of your near and zombie-filled future. In the midst of it all, we will also remind you of the power of coming together even while bloodied and bruised (and maybe undead), to create community and survive this potent endemic. 

After our reign as the leaders of this publication, we hope you’ll remember our survivors, of sexual violence, of administrative neglect, of on-campus shootings and many more. We are proud to have re-established our breaking desk and sports beat, complete with access to the Mariners press room. And, of course, most memorable is our investigative desk, where we launched the now-award winning investigation into Whitman’s handling of Title IX cases. We are proud to be a part of the shift to prioritize what really matters to our community, despite the potential risks. After all, the key to survival is to remain unafraid. 

The Wire is nothing without those who create it, support it, and sustain it, and we would like to thank everyone who has been a part of our chaotically organized team over the last year. To our staff and editors – who tirelessly write, illustrate, photograph, copy edit, design, layout, and distribute each issue – thank you. To everyone who has helped us keep the legacy of The Wire alive, thank you.

We hope Circuit makes you think, laugh, and reminds you that even as the world falls apart, we need to be there to tell the stories.

See you in the ruins,

Nazaaha Penick and Chloe Collins

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, 2024-2025