Back to school is an exciting time of the year where you start your new journey with old friends and make new friends along the way. You’ll learn about where all of your classes are, find the hot spots on campus to hang out, and the top secret ideal study spots. Clubs will eagerly welcome you into their arms as you walk down the aisles of the annual Clubs Expo. Kia ora koutou and welcome, or welcome back, to 2022!
Ha! Imagine that.
Thanks to the not-so-friendly neighbourhood virus, these back-to-school rituals will all remain online. March has rolled around again and here we are, still on Zoom in another COVID year.
To those of you who have read or contributed to Craccum before, we’re the new Co-Editors this year. You may have seen our work in the magazine last year as 2021 section editors, but either way, we’re glad to be back and we’re gearing to go. The start of this year has been tough with Omicron at everyone’s doorsteps, but we’ll make it through as we always do, and it can only go up from here (right?).
To the freshers this year (and those of you who’ve been around the Uni for years but only have just picked up a copy of Craccum now), you might be wondering right now what the hell you’ve just picked up. We’re Craccum, the University of Auckland’s student magazine. We’re here to break the latest Uni news to you, keep the student association (AUSA) and the bureaucratic powers-that-be in check, and make you laugh in your downtime (hopefully). Ultimately, we’re here to give your voice a platform and make room for the issues that are important to you.
Our aim this year is to make Craccum better and more accessible than ever before. If you’re reading this in print format, congrats! You’re one of the few students motivated enough to be on campus during this trying time. Our hats off to you, honestly. Drink lots of water, wash your hands, and stay safe out there, kids. But for everyone who can’t come onto campus, we’ve got you covered too. This year Craccum is on TikTok (@craccummag), Instagram (@craccum) and of course, our ever trusty Facebook page. If you’d like to contribute or just follow along, give us a shout on any of these platforms, or, of course, at our email editor@craccum.co.nz. No idea is too silly, or big, as long as it’s important to you and other students.
We’ve also collected the most amazing whānau this year, who’ve been working tirelessly to bring you all this first issue, and who we know will continue to amaze us throughout the year. Big love and big shoutout to Jess, Charlie, Grace, Michelle, Arela, Omni, Maddy, Nancy, and Gabbie, who’ve juggled jobs, study, and worked overtime to make Craccum this incredible. So, come join the family. We don’t bite, we promise!
Although it may feel frustrating to yet again be stuck at home in the same sweatpants for days on end, we’re here to let you know you’re not alone. So, get comfy, get that sourdough starter, half-knitted scarf, or yoga mat out. Or, who are we kidding, grab yourself a glass of wine and settle in for the third round of a Sex and the City binge. That’s what we’ll be doing anyway, along with a healthy serving of takeaways. Look, we’re not judging you if you’re not judging us. We all need a little comforting at the moment, no? So, we’ll have our pile of last year’s Craccum issues on hand too, for whenever you need a laugh, an update, to feel seen, or hell, even indulge in this week’s Wordle crossword (page 37). We’re looking forward to hanging out with you.
XOXO
Arohanui,
Flora Xie and Naomii Seah.
