'Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow' ...

Ray Buffington, editor-in-chief

It is a Plainsman Press tradition for all staff members, whether you are a photographer, writer, or editor, to write a “farewell” article for the last issue of the last semester you attend SPC.

Oh, don’t worry folks, this is not my “farewell.” You are not getting rid of me just yet. I have another semester to torment my faithful readers and seething haters with plenty of articles full of controversial, opinionated ideas nobody wants to talk about or tend to disagree with. Buckle your seat belts!

Because some of the best editors I’ve ever worked with leaving, I’ve decided to do a first for the Plainsman Press and write a “farewell” to my editors who are farewell-ing after this semester. They all deserve a form of recognition for their hard work and late nights they dedicated to the paper, and I will miss them all.

My first farewell-er is Giovanni Rosendo, my associate editor. She has been on the paper for four semesters, two of them as a staff writer and the final two as associate editor. She has put her heart and soul into the pages we print bi-weekly.

When I became editor-in-chief, Gio was my first pick to be my associate editor. I knew that we, as a team, could keep up the standards of this paper and please our predecessors.   Unfortunately, a little issue with seniority left me stuck with a nonchalant, lazy, annoying associate editor who whined more than they worked.

I suppose the laziness trait of that editor worked to my benefit, as this person stepped down from the position after three weeks, giving me the ability to immediately appoint Gio to take over.

I couldn’t have been luckier to have her as my associate editor this past year. We have had many great, side-splitting times that will be held in my memory dearly. Some of my favorites were jamming out to 80’s music on paper night (we are soul mates when it comes to Journey, The Clash, and Chaka Kahn), dressing up to the “nines” for Homecoming (OH yeah… we were hot), and our TIPA trip to San Antonio (we cleaned house with our awards… because, yes, we are good). 

She has been nothing less than fantastic at her job. Her talents as a writer, photographer, and editor will have newspapers and magazines scrambling to sign her on. I wish her much luck, happiness, and success in her future.

Farewell Gio!

My next person I will be fare-welling is my photography editor, Michelle Lojewski.

Michelle has been on the paper staff for four semesters, three as a photographer and one as photography editor. She should have been the paper’s photography editor for the past two semesters, and was our first choice, but we were unaware that she had an interest in the position when we were selecting candidates. A tragedy as it was, she exceeded all expectations during the single semester she served in the position. One is better than none.

Our best photographer, Michelle has an extreme talent to catch “that right moment” with her camera, and has the ability to tell detailed stories without words. For the past four semesters she has filled the pages of the Plainsman Press with pictures and moments only her eye, finger, and camera seem able to catch.

I’ve always admired and respected Michelle as a hardcore photographer and her lack of fear to shove people out of the way and “get in there” to get the best photo. She is always the first to be in the trenches of the violent media, squeezing her camera trigger while stepping over the weak. Her aggressiveness and integrity will, one day, land her the Pulitzer prize for photography.

I wish Michelle the best in whatever she chooses to do, for I know she will excel in anything she decides to pursue as a career.

Farewell Michelle!

Next to be farewell-ed is Christopher Byram, my opinion editor.

Christopher has been on the paper for three semesters, one as a staff writer and two as opinion editor. He has a magnificent talent for writing, and I know that the paper’s rules of censorship sometimes holds him back from being able to fully expressive himself. But he manages to get his point across while making the reader reel from his interesting use of metaphors.

Even though Christopher seemed to have a problem with meeting deadlines over the past three semesters, I have concluded he is allergic to conformity. His creative writing abilities and funny opinions will be missed.

He will, however, forever be remembered at the Plainsman Press for his glorious victory in the Mr. Caprock contest, when he portrayed his alter ego, “Princess Allure,” a Christina Aguilera impersonator with a love of Britney Spears. I’ve never seen a man with body hair pull off such a gentle lady so well. 

Farewell Christopher!

On to Margot’ Gonzales, my entertainment editor and next farewell-er.

Margot’ has been on the paper for three semesters, two as a staff writer and one as entertainment editor. She amazed everyone at how fast she picked up our newspaper designing program, laying out pages by herself within a couple of hours and only asking the occasional question.

Margot’ will be remembered for her unstoppable, high-pitched-at-times, lengthy laughter. Something random, and sometimes mundane, would occur (a fellow editor tripped and almost hit their head on a desk, someone made a funny noise, someone sneezed, the printer ran out of paper, etc…) and she would break down into a tear-jerking, hysterical, continuous laughter that would last anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 whole minutes.

Many theories have floated around the newsroom as to why and how she is able to keep up such a breath-taking exercise for the amount of time she does, but I personally believe that her ear-gouging giggling is due to the little “breaks” she takes during paper night. Waynebo’s is only a hop, skip, and a short car ride away, and Apple Pucker mixes very well with our nightly Sonic slushes.

Even if she is a booze-hound, I wish Margot’ all the best for her future and hope that AA will take her with open arms.

Farewell Margot’!

Last, and definitely not least, to give a proper farewell-ing to is Anjuli Blair, my editor assistant.

Anjuli has only been with the Plainsman Press for one semester, but she fit into the editors’ group as if she had been attending the past three semesters. She has a terrific knack for writing and designs pages as well as anyone else can.

I respect, and fear, Anjuli for her aggressive, take-no-bull attitude. One learns very quickly not to annoy or anger her, especially after the first lashing with the sharp side of her tongue. It is good to know that she is my friend and not my enemy, for I believe she has already destroyed all of her enemies.

Anjuli is destined to become the editor-in-chief at a large newspaper or magazine. She has the guts, attitude, and creativity to take the company by the (insert indecent word here) and bend them to her will, making it a better company overall.

If I get to work with Anjuli in the future, it would be an honor, just as long as she doesn’t beat me up if I were to miss a deadline.

To Anjui I wish many agreeable employees, non-idiot writers, and conforming companies.

Farewell Anjuli!

Well, that is all the farewell-ing to be had this semester. I am excited about appointing new editors and meeting new people, but I am sad at the same time.

This semester’s editing staff has been the hardest working group I have had the privilege of working with, and I can only hope that the next go-around’s staffers will be  half as dedicated as the current ones.

So for those of you leaving – take care, good luck, and make your deadlines.

For those of you staying with me – let’s get ready to whip those rookies into shape, impress Charlie with increasingly early paper nights, and show Broadcast a thing or two!