It’s not Goodbye, it’s ‘See Ya Later!’

A friend of mine once compared Southern to a drunk uncle.
You know the one—never without a drink, offering unsolicited advice—the family accepts as is. An endearing family embarrassment that we love to make jokes about—until someone else does, then it’s personal. In essence, that’s Southern University: a headache to attend, but an experience unlike any other.
When I finally sat down to write my last editorial, I had a list of things to address with a vengeance: The Office of Student Media, administration, outgoing student leaders, certain faculty members and academic departments. However, is that how I want to complete my undergraduate career?
Wondering why certain administrators arrived to the school with tenure, how student “leaders” could be so politically stagnant and ignorant; their only concern centered around tyrannical ruling, popularity and idiotic decisions, or how certain departments treat their students…was this how I wanted to leave Southern?
It isn’t a pretty picture, but the entire year I have smiled and listened attentively to people calling both the DIGEST offices and my personal telephone cursing me out, yelling at me, requesting meetings they fail to show up to, threatened with lawsuits, and accused of not being a student OR a writer. I have listened to student problems, written about their issues and managed to, indeed, remain a full-time student carrying 19 hours and two jobs.
Let me tell you something Southern University.
When I applied and interviewed for the position after being a reporter for two years, I promised the Board of Publications that I would bring The Southern DIGEST to number one.
Please direct your attention to one National HBCU Student News Media Conference, Best Student Newspaper Twice weekly or more plaque. This paper is second to no one, especially after the Black College Communication Association panel decided that there should be only one winner.
At the end of last semester, several staffers begged off the responsibility of working for the paper, because, as one staffer put it, “This is like another job. It’s too hard.”
Hard—rather, challenging—is being a staff of two writers, covering every section save Sports. Challenging is having to be in three places at once, and actually being at every event. Challenging is staying at layout until two and three in the morning, then going to class, while restraining yourself from attacking a reader complaining about “I’m Just Asking Questions,” after writing pages of real news.
Challenging is not editing every other on-campus “publication” and student organization’s grammar every time we see faulty subject-verb agreement and misused homonyms.
Challenging is the stress the EIC of this paper goes through.
Please do not misunderstand me; I’m not perfect, nor will I ever claim perfection. I make mistakes, and have re-read published work and find errors. As a writer, I will continue to make mistakes, but as a good writer, my duty is to strive to bring said errors to a bare minimum.
Being the editor of this paper was a blessing. I was afforded opportunities many will never have, traveled to places I’ve only dreamed about, and met my future bridesmaids.
I love this paper, ok?
As the mighty Jaguar Nation, I hope you don’t take offense to anything
I’ve written—but if you have, ask yourself why.
Why are you mad? Could it be because the school’s image is less than flattering these days?
That is not the paper’s fault; if it happened, we’ll report it.
Is it because you, administrators and university big wigs, are so out of touch with the students and their issues that you only come to the office when you’re pissed with what’s been published? Or have grown tired of politicking in the administration building and seek to ignore the First Amendment?
As I look into graduate schools and future plans, I wish for several things for my beloved university:
• Students who not only care enough to complain, but to put in the time and effort needed to improve their publication. The staff is being depleted this semester; come by Harris Hall, Suite 1062 and grab an application.
• Student leaders who are actual leaders. Not vindictive children who have nothing better to do, or after their positions have run their course—by choice or otherwise—don’t try to jump ship and come to the newspaper’s offices.
• Administration, staff and faculty who understand that we are students first—then writers.
• The future staff and students to get their payroll and refund checks on time.
In all these things, I must say I truly enjoyed this experience and will cherish it forever. I will forever be grateful and blessed to have been the editor-in-chief of THE Southern DIGEST 2008-2009. There are millions of future nieces and nephews who need to defend our special drunk uncle.
Perhaps one day he’ll put the bottle down and become the prestigious, lucid uncle we once knew.
Until then, I won’t say good-bye to SU, just see ya later!