As new undergrads will already have realised, there is no one “Cambridge experience”. Quite apart from the different interests and aspirations amongst the student population at any one time, the collegiate system makes it possible for almost every aspect of Cambridge life to differ between students. That’s no bad thing, but at some point one has to ask: what does it mean to be “at Cambridge” apart from the strange expectations and prejudices associated with the term?

That is where student journalism comes in. In a subtle way, the media defines what it means to be at Cambridge; it frames the parameters of our conversations. It is through the stories that the student newspapers tell, the investigations that they carry out, and the opinions they print that a shared “Cambridge community” is built. Students engage with this body of stories and ideas on an ongoing basis – commenting, reading, writing and sharing student journalism.

Freshers are able to cast a fresh light on the odd world of student life at this university; and for that reason their contribution to student journalism is invaluable. Time moves quickly in Cambridge, and for the seasoned Tripos-ers, it can be easy to forget how bizarre everything seemed when we first arrived. As is evident in this issue, the diversity of perspectives that freshers can offer should not be underestimated. From unusual gap year experiences (page 22), to a lack of immunity to the weirdness of Cambridge traditions (page 14) – freshers are called ‘fresh’ for a reason. The influx of new writers represents a proliferation of new ideas and perspectives in this community – this injection of life and interest is something to be welcomed.

On the flip side, student newspapers are the most direct way for freshers to engage with university life. The disparate structure of this huge establishment can sometimes make Cambridge seem discordant; a central university newspaper allows students to conceptualise and learn about the university as a whole. Varsity is not just a training ground for student journalists; it is a platform for us all.

And so, however daunting it might feel to get involved, there is for incoming writers an enormous realm of possibility and promise embodied in these pages. It is the promise of making Cambridge their own.