By Negin Khodayari

Walking back into The Eyeopener’s newsroom after over a year away feels a little like stepping into a time capsule. The bulletin boards are still overflowing with mementos of past editors and almost every crevice of the room is covered with stickers—a sight I didn’t realize I missed until now. The fluorescent lights still buzz a little too loud and the shelves still sag under the weight of old issues. But every relic reminds me of our legacy on campus and the generations of editors, contributors, sources, readers and friends who have walked through these doors. This isn’t just a student publication. It’s a community. A responsibility. A platform. A voice for stories that too often go untold.

Since I last signed off in Volume 57, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has seen some notable changes, both good and bad. 

Earlier this year the school launched a new five-year academic plan—“Transforming Futures: TMU’s Vision for Academic Excellence”—co-created with over 1,600 community voices. It’s a roadmap promising progress in student success, equity, Indigenous partnerships and sustainability. The university also unveiled its first campus-wide Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, marking an institutional promise to finally address inequalities within the school.

The students’ union is changing too. This spring, the Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union voided its 2025 general election after an investigation found the process “deeply compromised.” Several executives and directors have been suspended while independent investigators review allegations tied to the election and organization. It’s a messy, uncertain moment for student leadership—but one that underscores why student journalism matters. We will be keeping a close eye on the union to ensure it remains accountable to the students it represents.

Change isn’t just coming through policy and governance—it’s etched into the campus skyline. Construction is underway on the new eight-storey Student Well-Being Centre, a modern addition to the historic O’Keefe House. This space will bring together counselling, medical care, health promotion and accommodations under one roof—an overdue investment in student wellness. Though not all feedback has been positive. Despite the university reassuring students that the historic face of the building will be preserved, some are skeptical of the changes. Some students have expressed they believe there is value in maintaining the character of spaces both indoor and out, as previously reported by The Eye. 

Just down the street, the Lincoln Alexander School of Law is preparing to move into a landmark building at 277 Victoria St., we’ll be following that transition as it progresses.

And coming to campus this fall is SCITHub, the world’s first fully digitally integrated building which will serve as a living lab, enabling research on technologies to support sustainable urban development. The building’s construction cost was valued at approximately $7.5 million and was being funded by a combination of public grants and private donations, as previously reported by The Eye.

Even academics are pushing boundaries in unexpected ways. Just last month, The Creative School announced a course on Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, set to launch in 2026—a reminder that culture and curriculum are increasingly intertwined.

But not all the change has been positive. Last fall, TMU announced it will be retracting its plan to reserve three quarters of available spots for equity-deserving applicants at its new School of Medicine. These students would have previously been applying through one of three admission streams: the Indigenous Admissions Pathway, the Black Admissions Pathway and the Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway, as previously reported. The Eye will continue to report on the developments with the medical school admissions, especially in light of the university’s new  Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan described above. 

More recently on Aug. 4, The Globe and Mail reported GardaWorld, the security company hired by TMU, is responsible for staffing ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ a controversial immigration detention facility in the U.S. We are following this story closely and will keep the you updated on new developments. 

In short: TMU is evolving—physically, academically and socially. And with that evolution comes the need for fair, independent student journalism more than ever. 

Beyond the confines of this campus, global crises—including the ongoing genocide in Palestine—still prevail. The Eye remains committed to reporting the truth affecting international communities. We will continue to cover events with accuracy, context and care.

Part of being a leader means acknowledging where you go wrong. As a publication, we haven’t always gotten it right. In the past, we’ve made some ill-considered judgments in our reporting and our readers have been loyal enough to point them out. For that, we’re grateful. Mistakes are part of journalism but accountability is too. Now, with new energy and fresh perspectives, we’re renewing our promise of accuracy, fairness and journalistic standards.

This year, you can expect rigorous reporting from us—on university decisions, student stories, construction delays, union controversies, global unrest and beyond. But you can also expect features that uplift and celebrate our community: the student entrepreneurs, the artists, the researchers and the activists who make TMU what it is.

That’s why I’ve returned as interim editor-in-chief (EIC)—and for me, this return carries special meaning. I’m proud and deeply honoured to be one of the only EIC’s in Eyeopener history to hold this role twice. Being trusted with this responsibility again isn’t something I take lightly. I know the weight of this position and the privilege of leading such a talented team of student journalists. The Eye has shaped me as a journalist and as a person and stepping back into this role feels like both a homecoming and a challenge I’m eager to embrace.

And we’re making a big move of our own: The Eye is returning to weekly print. In a digital-first era, that decision may seem unusual but to us, the tangible matters. Print is more than ink on paper. It’s an art form. It’s a record. It’s something you can hold, share and shove into your backpack to read between classes—or never. We believe students still deserve that experience.

So here’s to another year of truth-telling, curiosity and chasing the next great story. TMU is changing. So are we. But our goal remains the same: to serve students and piss off the right people.