Despite the standard “Access Denied!” that greets us when we attempt to social network within the Academy walls, social media plays an integral role in our daily lives. Online platforms have become stations of expression, education, advertisement, and discussion. The advancement office, student groups, and athletics department have all embraced social media as a tool for connection and communication, further linking our lives online and in school.

The socio-political commentary offered by the IB Theater class coupled with the recent presentation by Global Speaker Claire Diaz-Ortiz make this emerging topic of social media all the more relevant to Newark Academy students and faculty. As the theater performance pointed out, the presidential election has sparked debate amongst students on social platforms – especially Facebook – that can sometimes get out of hand. Although contention is never ideal, Ms. Diaz-Ortiz iterated that social media’s ability to prompt more politically fueled discussion amongst young people is absolutely a positive thing. Facebook and Twitter’s power to foster communication, unite like-minded people, and reach past geographical borders, has allowed social media to become an agent of offline social change.

With this in mind, The Minuteman has made a conscious effort to more fully tap the influence of social media. We are striving to become more “Facebook prevalent” – linking articles and advertising new publications as a way of gaining readership. We have also just launched a new twitter feed – @NAMinutemanNews – where you can find updates on our articles and stories. We hope that this new resource fosters a more seamless connection between students and teachers and The Minuteman.

Happy Reading,

Cody Reid-Dodick ‘13, Rachel DeChiara ‘13, and The Minuteman Staff