Since its return as CUNY SPS’ student-run newspaper at the end of the Spring 2023 semester, The Kiosk has reached its 100th article! It’s incredible to think that in two short years, the editorial team has covered such a wide array of topics, clubs, events, and students all while building a community of student writers who have made The Kiosk the incredible publication it is today.
The Kiosk, originally founded in 2018 by student journalists Lisa Sheridan and Milan Fredericks, began as a vibrant student paper until the project was paused in 2021. However, two years later, Anthony Sweeney, associate director at the Office of Student Life, revived the site to continue as the School’s official student paper.
Along with staff advisor Ariana Souzis, communications publications writer-editor in the Office of Marketing and Communications, The Kiosk brought on Ivan De Luce (MA Museum Studies) as editor-in-chief and Tasnia Rashid (BS Information Systems ‘24) as managing editor. Since Tasnia’s graduation, Nasreen Quadir (BS Business) has taken on the managing editor role, and Ivan will be graduating from CUNY SPS this May.
After two years of articles covering all things student-related at CUNY SPS, the Kiosk team has learned a lot about what it takes to run an online publication.
Managing editor Nasreen Quadir shared her thoughts on reaching 100 articles, saying, “It’s a huge milestone, and I’m honored to be part of The Kiosk’s legacy. Publishing 100 articles means we’ve accomplished something meaningful.”
“The Kiosk is the voice of the student experience here at CUNY SPS,” staff advisor Anthony Sweeney said. “It is irreplaceable. The stories show the many interests of our diverse student body. As an institution of higher education, our learning evolves and expands every day. Seeing that reflected in The Kiosk is very exciting.”
Fellow staff advisor Ariana Souzis expressed her expectations at the outset of the publication’s reboot: “I was originally hoping we would just be able to resume publishing occasionally and if lucky, get some students to read it. But The Kiosk has far surpassed my expectations— we now publish great articles 2-3 times a week and draw a great readership! The Kiosk has become a professional and robust student publication. The articles are well-written and stand alone as great journalism. It’s also expanded its coverage a lot and has become a wonderful resource for all students at CUNY SPS.”
Former editor-in-chief DeQuency Bowen, who helmed The Kiosk during the pandemic, said that she was nervous about writing newsworthy articles when she joined, but realized it was okay when she took the risk. “The Kiosk was important to me because I knew that although we were a small publication, The Kiosk represented SPS, so I wanted to do an awesome job. And I knew that at some point The Kiosk would continue to grow as a publication, and I felt great that I could say that I was a part of the history.”
Tasnia Rashid shared her thoughts on the milestone: “When I first became managing editor of The Kiosk, I was both excited and uncertain about the future. Designing the website was a huge undertaking, but I was proud of the outcome, especially with Ivan’s help. However, what was truly fulfilling to me were the connections I made with the CUNY SPS community—interacting with student clubs, attending events, and reading the amazing stories from peers. These relationships were the heart of my experience and the most rewarding part of the role.”
“I am thrilled to see The Kiosk hit this huge milestone with its 100th issue!” Kiosk co-founder Lisa Sheridan said. “It fills me with great pride to know that our students are providing such a valuable information resource for our community. And, of course, it’s always exciting to read the articles written by students and connect with the issues they care about. Congrats Team Kiosk!!”
The Kiosk’s staff, both past and present, also shared their favorite moments while working on the site.
“My favorite part of The Kiosk was the diverse media we’ve produced, from podcasts and photography to fiction and journalism, as well as the events and competitions hosted,” Rashid explained. “It’s been a privilege to be part of a platform that highlights the creativity and diversity of SPS students. The value The Kiosk brings to an online school cannot be understated and I look forward to seeing how it continues to grow!”
Souzis agreed, adding, “Two big highlights for me in particular would be the contests offered each semester—they have inspired some great writers to contribute—and the journalism workshops taught by CUNY faculty, which provide hands-on training and tips for budding journalists. I love seeing how The Kiosk continues to grow and connect students, both as writers and readers. Also, in this day and age of AI and shrinking newsrooms, I think it’s more important than ever to promote writing and journalism!”
“My favorite stories are the ones that offer a glimpse into another perspective,” Quadir said. “They feel personal to the individual or group being highlighted. Since we’re an online community, we don’t always get to have those one-on-one conversations, so reading these stories and connecting with them in that way feels really special.”
“The launch of the podcast series stands out to me as an excellent addition to The Kiosk, part two,” Sweeney said. “It shows how much we care about experimenting with new media, and connects our campus to a larger community of media makers.”
This editor-in-chief, meanwhile, can’t believe how far The Kiosk has come since our humble beginnings. It was my first semester at CUNY SPS, and I was looking for a part-time opportunity to continue using my experience in journalism while transitioning to a career in museum studies. The Kiosk sounded like the perfect place to be, and my guess was right that the position would help me get to know this school community much better than if I were solely working on my classes online. Although CUNY SPS may not be in-person like other campuses, our community is one of CUNY’s strongest! I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to contribute to this community, and I’m forever grateful for the students, staff members, and faculty I’ve met along the way. And as these past 100 posts show, The Kiosk has a bright future ahead of it!
“The Kiosk is here to stay!” Sweeney added. “The current editorial team builds on the strong legacy and hard work of its founders. The Kiosk has proven it can react and enliven the SPS community so the next step is to build a strong team of student writers. We have always wanted to financially support those student writers for their hard work and that needs to be a priority for the next academic year.”
What’s next for The Kiosk? Quadir had a few ideas: “1,000 articles! An award! Honestly, the possibilities are endless! We’re a team of dedicated individuals who are always striving to build connections and highlight important stories. The world is our oyster.”
