Welcome to the ninth edition of the magazine and our largest magazine yet. Last month, as we were brainstorming ideas for the magazine theme, we found that many of our discussions focused on reflecting and analyzing how much has changed from 2020 to this year. Whether it be the political changes in leadership, or the impact of COVID-19 on the Boulder community and on individuals, or the rising focus and discussion on social justice issues, there are many different facets of life that have been impacted and altered within the past year. 

With vaccine rollout, there’s a hope that life can go back to “normal.” But what does normal even look like, after a year like 2020? Introducing the theme of our magazine: Then and now—specifically, looking at the changes of the past year from 2020 to today. 

To think of everything that has changed from the spring of 2020 till now can seem overwhelming; it’s also remarkable to see how far we have come and the progress that is still left to be made. For this magazine, the writers shared stories on: changes to the music industry, vaccine development, lessons learned during the pandemic, the notions of cancel culture vs. fumbling forward, the evolution and impact of TikTok, the impact of COVID-19 on the CU football program, changes to the fitness industry and a satirical look at what the year 2022 may bring. 

I want to thank the writers for all of their time and diligent work. It is such a busy time of year for many, and I appreciate their dedication to great storytelling. I also want to thank all of the editors at The Bold for their patience, collaboration and input on the stories and formation of this magazine. 

As the second-to-last edition of the magazine for the spring 2021 semester, and for me as the editor-in-chief, I hope the stories provide you with some useful information and interesting insights. If you have any questions, comments or would like to contribute to a future magazine, please contact us at thebold@colorado.edu. 

All the best,

Tayler Shaw

Magazine Editor-in-Chief