Abolishing this practice, which 26 percent of our staff members currently participate in, may eliminate a large number of our photographers, illustrators and Web editors. A fair number of our editors and reporters may be unable to continue contributing as well.

This could translate to less news coverage, fewer features, illustrations and photographs, as well as the loss of The Lowell on the Web. We may receive fewer awards, especially considering that five of last year’s eight national award winners participated in journalism during their free mods. Students may lose the chance to hone their journalism skills over a continuous period of time if Advanced Journalism does not fit into their schedule and they have no way of fitting the class into their free mods. Those interested in pursuing a career in journalism who wish to include their continuous and consistent participation in The Lowell on their resume may no longer be able to.

That said, The Lowell would sincerely like to thank everyone who has supported the fight to continue offering as many students as possible the opportunity to participate in our program. Whether you were one of the 17 members of the School Site Council who voted in favor of SSC student representative and senior journalist Connie Chung’s new method of allowing students to complete journalism work during their free mods or one of the approximately 1,600 students who signed a petition in support of Chung’s resolution, we thank you. The Lowell would especially like to thank English department head Elizabeth Rogers for tirelessly advocating for our program; Lowell’s counselors, who all signed the petition in support of Chung’s proposal; SSC student representative and junior journalist Jason Siu for coordinating multiple petitions and presenting them to the Administrative Council; journalism parent Bonnie Jones for gathering over 150 Lowell parents’ signatures on an endorsement letter she wrote and presented to the SSC; and the countless teachers and alumni who have reassured us of their support.

In short, we would like to thank YOU — the student, the faculty member, the parent — for doing everything in your power to support us. It is not we who have failed to save journalism, rather it is the school administration that has failed to both listen to the majority of the community and act in the best interest of Lowell students.