From the Editor

Nancy Dredge
Volume 23, No. 3

Long-time subscribers to Exponent II know that the newspaper's staffing has always been quite fluid. In such a transient area as Boston, where people come for schooling and new jobs, stay awhile, and then move on elsewhere, it is no surprise the paper's masthead should change with nearly each issue.

Fortunately, Jenny Atkinson, the paper's most recent editor, was a part of Exponent's board of directors for several years before moving on. We all appreciate the work and time Jenny put into Exponent II – first as treasurer and then, for the past two and a half years, as editor. 

Since Jenny's departure, I have been acting as an interim editor for the paper, a role that I also played some twenty years ago. One might think that the currently popular cliché "been there, done that" might apply; I'm finding, however, that whereas some facets of editing this paper are and will ever be the same, it is by no means the same kitchen table production we began twenty-six years ago. The technological advancements alone make some editing of the paper easier, some more complicated.

Working with me are three women serving as associate editors: Mikelle Eastley, Kate Holbrook, and Heather Sundahl. The four of us all have busy working, schooling, and/or mothering lives. We hope that splitting up the inevitable mountain of work it takes to produce this paper will make this completely volunteer effort a more manageable one. In addition, Zoe Clarkwest is learning the ropes to assume the job of managing editor.

We are also pleased to introduce Judy Lin Cannon as the guest editor for this issue of the paper. Judy, who is currently going to graduate school in Chicago, has spent a lot of time looking at her future and wondering how she is going to be able to do everything she wants to do – or feels that she should do – in her life. She began askingfriends to describe their decision-making processes vis a vis schooling, careers, and families. This issue is the result of her questioning.

Interestingly, the Helen Candland Stark essay contest winner, Susan Barnson-Hayward, also wrote her essay about juggling all the different facets of a woman's life. And, indeed, over the years the topic has been one of continual concern to our readers and writers. We hope that you will enjoy and gain insights from reading about the lives of these contributors.

Many of you have followed Exponent's own ruminations about our raison d'etre. We would still appreciate any input you could give us about the newspaper by responding to our reader's survey, which was printed in the winter issue. You may tear the survey out of that issue or copy it and mail it to us or send your responses to our e-mail address (ExponentII@aol.com) [Note from Webmaster: That e-mail address is no longer active. You can contact us at editor@exponentii.org]. You can also respond to the survey on our web page (http://sites.netscape.net/exponent2) [Note from Webmaster: that site is no longer active.]. We are also always interested in any comments you wish to make on the various articles that appear in the paper or any suggestions or questions you have about the paper in general. We happily print letters to the editor.

We feel quite strongly that the paper is very much yours. We need you to support the newspaper by suggesting articles or topics you would like to see in the paper-or, even better, by writing and submitting them! – and by sharing the newspaper with friends. We are continually amazed at the number of people, especially younger women, who have never heard of Exponent II! It would be wonderful if all of you subscribers could help us expand the subscription base of the paper by telling as many people as you can about it or by sending gift subscriptions to friends and relatives. 

For those of you who have already done these things, we can only say "Thanks – and carry on!" 

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