We have finally come to the last print issue of The Pacer this semester, and my, has it been an eventful academic year thus far.
With news about U.S. intervention in Syria, an Indian Miss America, a federal government shutdown, UTM’s ROTC program originally being scheduled for closure and a recent hazing controversy, we haven’t had to search for very long to find material to talk about.
And a special thanks goes to the writers that were willing to step up and say what they had to say on Viewpoints. Regulars, semi-regulars and even guest writers came together and shared their thoughts with us, leading to discussions that continued for weeks past their original print dates.
Speaking of discussions, some of you may have noticed that, aside from the occasional reference to the ROTC, once a topic appears on the printed section of Viewpoints, it never reappears in print. A current rule-of-thumb The Pacer is currently working with is what the editor calls “no sequels.” In other words, we do not dwell on a topic for more than one print issue, so a topic never overstays its welcome.
But that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your chance to respond to what appears in Viewpoints. Remember, The Pacer’s online Viewpoints section is always open for continuations, reiterations, agreements, disagreements or anything else you think others need to know.
Keep in mind that seeing your name printed on a copy of The Pacer doesn’t guarantee that your column is going to be read. Online submissions are just as valued as printed ones, so readers should always be open-minded about writing for all sections regardless of the likelihood of showing up in the next print issue.
When January rolls around and students return from the break, we hope that you will help us confront the issues that the year 2014 is sure to bring us. Until then, The Pacer wishes its readers a happy Winter Break.
