To the vast majority of Minaret readers, I have represented myself as Ceiling Cat, watching from the archives of various incident reports as students (and sometimes faculty) make poor choices, and snickering publicly (hopefully along with the rest of the student body).
But my time at The Minaret has been so much more than that.
I’ve seen nothing but changes, changes and more changes.’ I have been the News Editor and the Features Editor. I have written commentaries, news articles, movie reviews and game reviews.
The student paper has changed in ways that words can’t describe since my arrival on campus. Witness the entrance of Charles McKenzie, who provided the driving force and vision needed to transform the paper from what looked like an amateur production into a real professional work.
When you compare issues today to issues four years ago, The Minaret literally looks like a different publication. Future generations of Minareteers will no doubt refer to the difference in eras as pre- and post-McKenzie.
I’ve seen editors come and go, from the draconian Victor O’Brien era right up to the pragmatic year of Arrabal. I’d say it’s been a rollercoaster ride, but really we’ve only ever been going up, up and up (not that we started off very low at all to begin with, especially in terms of editors).
Characters like Steve Knauss, John Phifer, Simos Farrell, Renee Gerstein, Sarah Gottlieb, Max Roberts, Charlie Hambos and others have been key in making The Minaret feel like a real family. We formed bonds over late nights toiling away in front of a computer monitor with only a few slices of pizza as a reward, in the midst of heated discussions over what was appropriate to print, and always over frustration with officials and students who refused to give the full story even when it was in their best interests.
We came, we saw, we reported (and occasionally poked fun — last time I checked, Joe Brosefson finally finished his first full book without pictures!)
UT itself has changed, too. We’re in the midst of building a chapel, and I’ve seen the completion of two new residence halls (one of which has been my home for the past two years, a place I will miss dearly).
The Conduct system has evolved and grown with students’ needs; changing disciplinary proceedings in order to give students fairer and more realistic sanctions.
Student Government has changed as well. More and more, students are actually getting involved at SG, and it’s nice to see.
UT has changed since I’ve been here, and it will continue to change long after I’m gone from this campus.
Looking forward to graduation and beyond is an interesting prospect.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
Being a business major in today’s economy brings a few songs to mind. The first is by fictional band Dethklok, ‘Go Forth and Die.’
Go forth ‘hellip; be conquered ‘hellip;
Go forth and die!
Now while this no doubt sounds grim, I assure you it’s a satirical look at how metal bands today make their music. But the deeper meaning of the song rings true.
Sometimes staring into the abyss that awaits us on the other side of that graduation stage is the most terrifying thing imaginable; like the only thing we can do is go forth, intending to change the world, instead finding ourselves crushed and conquered by it, giving in and simply passing on.
But that’s not the way to do it. And that’s not what UT is about. In my time here I’ve seen a school full of passionate (if often intoxicated) students, who engage in activities with their full hearts and minds. We’ve all had the long, grinding classes, but I’m talking about the classes where everyone comes to life; where discussions are colorful and explosive (for example, a Parssinen history class).
Because when you get right down to it, that’s what college is about. Sure, your classes are there. But it’s what you do; it’s all that extra stuff, that really forms you, that makes you who you are.
Those who have gotten involved know what I’m talking about. It’s ROI (my business education coming to the forefront there).
I guess what I’m getting at is the one thing I haven’t seen change in my time here is a certain amount of apathy on the campus.
Don’t get me wrong; things have gotten better. We see flashes of it from time to time — we can see when The Minaret hits a big story, in SG, at the Party in the Park — anytime where we stop behaving simply as students and start acting like a campus.
My experience at UT has taken twists and turns that I never saw coming. Maybe that’s what made it so valuable, so enjoyable. I know for sure it’s something I’d never take back or give up.
‘ ‘ ‘ Thanks for everything, UT.
‘ ‘ ‘ It’s been fun.
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