Update: Though the article initially reported that Steve Fox taught at Fair State University, he actually taught at Ferris State University prior to CMU.

Starting this semester, Steve Fox will join Bob Silbernagel as an advisor for The Criterion. He is also teaching English 111 at Colorado Mesa University. 

Fox has a journalism degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s in communication from Grand Valley State University. He worked in journalism for 15 years and began teaching during his graduate studies. He has previous experience with advising student newspapers and anticipates the upcoming academic year with The Criterion.

“As soon as I found out I was moving here, I looked into hopefully teaching again and possibly advising a student newspaper again,” Fox said.

Fox moved to Grand Junction from teaching and advising at Fair State University in Michigan, and he hopes to teach the importance of getting to the simple core of a message in writing, both with The Criterion and in his English 111 classes.

“[I look forward to] getting to know students and learning different processes in a new place, the traditions,” Fox said. “I hope everybody gets the chance to learn and improve. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Criterion has two advising positions, and each advisor assists both the staff and editorial board with the process of producing a newspaper. The advisors often assist with editorial decisions and provide insight for reporting. 

“I’ve learned from advising other papers that I think the best thing is to just observe, and offer information as it’s requested or needed,” Fox said. “It’s really not about me, but maybe over time, helping to look at the bigger picture and just keeping things moving in the best direction possible.” 

As the year progresses, Fox hopes to help The Criterion make an impact both on campus and in the community. 

“I think that any student newspaper on any college campus is so important if the focus is on good, honest journalism,” Fox said. “The bigger picture is that it is healthy for a community to have an independent student newspaper that’s doing good journalism.”