Former editor wishes fond farewell
— Paul Schrag

“This is my last chance,” I thought as I sat down to write. “This is my last chance to say what I want, without someone else editing or interpreting or confusing what I put on the page.”

The possibilities are mind boggling.

I’ve learned more in the last two years of my life than I could have imagined. Not because I was here at UWT, but because I made a phenomenal effort to do so. Long ago I realized that my education and understanding was my responsibility and was precariously placed if left in the hands of others.

Still, I couldn’t have learned what I have without the help of many people here. So my last rant is a thank you to all the people who assisted me in the learning process.

Thank you to Chancellor Carwein and the host of icons that administrate and organize and for whatever else they do. It’s tough at the top, regardless of what those in the trenches may think on the far side of the equation.

Thanks to Steve Smith for being a challenge and a facilitator for my growing sympathy and respect for those in leadership positions.

Thanks to Tony and Bruce for friendship and for helping me negotiate the world of college financed living. More than that, though, thanks for being proactive and human in the process.

Thanks to Carol Wood for helping me learn important lessons for and providing an accurate and kind reflection. Thanks to Lisa Tice or helping as I finally faced my physical limitations and helping me see the freedom in living within the confines of self.

Thanks to Shellie Jo White for trust, support, friendship, courage and integrity. You perform tremendously in a very difficult position.

Thanks to Joe Chynoweth for support, friendship and for understanding my sense of humor.

Thanks to John Peterson for quiet support and deftly and gently encouraging me to grow as a writer. You have a very lucky little girl.

Thanks to Mark LaPointe for friendship and for providing a wonderful learning experience. Thank you for respect and being a professor that I could agree with more than half the time.

Thanks to Chris Demaske for helping me open the door for a little “robust debate” in a challenging marketplace of ideas. I’ll get you a Britney poster, I promise. Also, thanks for helping me find the truth about my field of interest and for giving me the tools to maintain some clarity and integrity in a profession that doesn’t always leave much room for such things. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Thanks to Mark Dodson for friendship and for being such a sharp looking hippy. Keep the faith, brother.

Thanks to Stephen Atkinson for being, well, Stephen Atkinson. You rule. Remember, give me slack or give me food. Or kill me. Praise Bob. Jackhammer Jessup will meeat you down the tracks. Word.

Thanks to the Ledger staff for all your patience and hard work. I learned many of my most important lessons with you guys. Thank you Mary Roeder for being you with all your strength, fire and indescribable beauty and character. Tolena, Lewis, Ben, Karie, Crystal and James, thanks for helping me hold it together and stay sane, sort of. Thank you to everyone who wrote stories and took the time to help. It’s all yours, monkeys. Good luck.

Finally, thank you to Sonja Hall. I would have never come here if it weren’t for you. I would never have made it through without you. Thank you for encouraging me to become greater than I ever thought I could be. I owe you more than you will ever know. It will take me the rest of my life to repay you. You are a miracle. The best is yet to come. I love you.

Keep it real, represent and F.U. (Farewell University),