This is it.
This is the 27th time I write to you as editor-in-chief and the last. It is now my time to say goodbye.
My term as your editor is now at an end. It has been the honor of my life to be editor of this newspaper. I will continue to be grateful for the opportunity Auburn gave me to serve. I will never hold a position higher or a covenant more sacred than that of editor-in-chief of The Auburn Plainsman.
Throughout my nine-month tenure, I have sought to give The Plainsman a new direction: more effective, more full of ideas, more comprehensive reporting, always putting students first and always focusing on the future. I leave this paper more idealistic, more full of hope than the day I started and more confident The Plainsman’s best days lie ahead.
It’s been quite a journey this academic year, and The Plainsman has been there witnessing it all, while sometimes getting caught in the crossfire. If the battles The Plainsman has endured this year, especially the recent ones with the College Republicans, have taught me anything, it is that we achieve aims by defending what we believe and know to be right.
The Editorial Board has taken some of the most palpable and unpopular stances on campus issues this year.
While it was not the Board’s intent to cause divides among students, I am proud we were able to challenge the status quo and begin conversations about things we weren’t talking about before: Where exactly is the United States headed in Iraq? We asked if we were prepared for a campus emergency two weeks before Lauren Burk’s murder. We called for one of the most expansive and thorough searches for a new trustee in years. All for the betterment of a University at the end of the day we want to continue to succeed.
The job of a journalist is not only to ask questions, but to get answers. I hope readers in disagreement with our positions could see our argument was an understandable one.
For those of you graduating in 16 days, you are the men and women who will shape this nation into what it will become. May 10, 2008, is your day. You will be certified at the starting line to rest of your life. You are the citizens of the 21st century. You will now represent our future.
There’s a reason why you are here. And that reason is greater than any degree. It’s greater than any paycheck. And it’s greater than anything anybody can tell you you’re supposed to do. Your real job is to find out what the reason is and get about the business of doing it.
You will decide the issues plaguing this nation. You cannot wait for someone else to create change because it will never happen. You must be part of that change.
You have to live life; you have to live it to the fullest. You have to take every second of your life and live it like it’s your last because quite honestly the only thing we can ever be certain of is this moment right now.
To my staff, it’s been an incredible ride. Every one of you brought a unique outlook helping this paper succeed. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to get to know each of you. You have taught me more than I could have ever imagined.
I am leaving, but I will be taking our friendship with me.
Pete, you have become a better friend than I could have ever hoped for, our friendship means more to me than you will ever know.
Cliff, I am glad someone else in this office can name all the Supreme Court justices; Kendra, I will continue to look to your strong will for guidance.
Blake, I cannot begin to explain how much I will miss our nights out next year. They mean more to me than anything.
Emily, even though you never came out with us, I still think you’re OK.
Kevin, when you become the next John Mayer, remember I gave you your start ... kinda.
Kyle, K-Ci & JoJo love you.
Adam, I appreciate your cartoons, and you have no idea how you come up with that stuff every week.
Julie, one of the best decisions I ever made was to hire you ... if only for your accent. Lauren, one of the best decisions I ever made was to hire you ... if only for your naivete.
Katie, I can’t wait to come to your (dry) wedding. Jordan, yeah ... JC.
Ross, yeah.
Rachel, I will forever miss your stories of LA and I wish you all the best.
Alex. I’ll see you this summer.
Mallory, you are a terrific reporter and you will no doubt go far.
JD please quit studying and live a little (life is better that way). And just remember who introduced you to all those ladies.
Anna, you suffered through a semester of City Council, and I love you.
Brittney, your red hair will take you far.
Natalie Wade will be your editor this summer and Kristi Oberholzer takes the reigns in the fall.
They will both do an incredible job; not as good as me, but c’mon.
As for me, my days as editor are over, but my days of service to a University that has given me so much are not.
Auburn University is now at a critical junction in its evolution as a University of the 21st century. Most universities are going one of two ways.
Some are becoming more closed, only admitting those meeting a certain stereotype to preserve an “image.”
This is Auburn’s time. It is time for this University to show Alabama and the country that Auburn has the tools to give every student a key to unlock their future.
President Gogue and his administration will lead Auburn into a new era of knowledge.
Many things need to be changed, and changed so fundamentally so Auburn can never return to failed policies of the past.
I know Auburn will succeed in continuing to be one of the brighter beacons of education this nation has to offer, but it’s going to take all of us to make Auburn the brightest.
Godspeed, Auburn. War Eagle.
David Ingram is the Editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach him at 844-9021.
