The J-TAC

Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Opinion

Mike Cedeno [Click to enlarge]

It has been quite a four and a half years. I remember the day I first set foot in The J-TAC office, back in August of 2005. It is funny how everything in the office is eerily similar to how it looked that day I took a position as the campus distribution person, basically a fancy way to say I delivered the newspapers around campus every Thursday morning in a cart I borrowed from the Physical Plant.

A lot of things have changed since then. Four editors before me have come and gone, each teaching me something valuable in their own way. I've seen a presidential change at the university; I was around when the "aliens" came to visit and I was here when the "MLK Party" made national news. I've witnessed the Ku Klux Klan marching downtown, an Elite Eight appearance for the men's basketball team and now a NCAA Division II record-tying kick. I've talked to more people than I can remember; some I will never forget, some I wish I had never spoken to. The main point is, I have been through a lot serving as a staff member of this newspaper and what a ride it has been.

Holding my position is a double-edged sword, however. I have people come up to me on campus and say, "Hey, I recognize you," and start talking about that week's events or whatever was in the previous week's edition. It's times like those that make me so glad I have a job where I can provide information to people which they might have never received if they had not picked up a copy of the paper. I crack a smile every time I see someone pick up an issue; it makes my job worthwhile.

Other times though, the job can be pretty strenuous. For every one person you make happy, you make 10 others angry. Luckily, I learned that was the nature of the beast long ago. This job taught me to a grow thick skin - almost like leather. If someone can dish it, I can take it.

I'd like to say I deserve all the credit for putting out this paper every week, but that would be far from the truth. The truth is I have a great staff who work hard to make a quality paper. We may not receive very much funding and may not have the newest equipment to work with, but we do what we can with what we have. I owe a solid debt of gratitude to my staff and the effort they put into their work.

This paper would also be nothing without you, the reader. You are the reason why we have late nights on Wednesdays and you are the reason we do what we do. It wouldn't make any sense to make a newspaper for our own enjoyment.

I hand over my position with a heavy heart. So many memories in my little office; so many good times. I look at my wall every day I come in and read the little notes and letters my staff have written for me over the years. One of my staff members even drew me in cartoon form, flying across the page saying, "I'll stomp you into the ground till your teeth are unrecognizable." It still brings a smile to my face, even though it was drawn over two years ago.

I am privileged and honored to have served as the Managing Editor for this newspaper that represents the Texans of Tarleton State University and I will forever carry on the Texan pride and spirit we so exuberantly display.

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