So this is it, it being my final column as writer with the Technician. Having read far too many superficial, artificially nostalgic and quasi-emotional ‘farewell columns,’ I will try to avoid my predecessors and their yucky rhetoric.
My experiences with the Technician since the fall of 2005 encompass a range that at some instances should be called great while others are perhaps best categorized as, well, frustrating and simply not-so-great. Regardless, I don’t want to spend my few last words rehashing my experiences, but rather I would prefer to go down in Technician history with some aphorisms of advice and criticism.
But, before that, I want to thank those valiant Technician patrons who actually read the columns and responded intelligently to them. It is disheartening to see how many value the Technician insofar as it is a fix for their sudoko addiction or as a temporary mechanism of diversion in the midst of a monotonous lecture.
Perhaps a college newspaper will never be anything more than that, but I refuse to endorse such a notion given the evidence of success of others. Journalistic nihilism never gets anyone anywhere, especially the newspaper itself. Anyways, it is time to progress beyond this tangent and address what were the original intentions of writing this column – wisdom and criticism.
Well, the good news for those who dislike my writing is that you will never have to read any new editorials of mine in this paper ever again. In all seriousness though, there are a few things which I feel are not adequately acknowledged and ought to be addressed.
First, students who travel to Chapel Hill for whatever reason ought to utilize the TTA bus services provided free of charge by the city of Raleigh in cooperation with NC State.
This service provides an opportunity to avoid the nuisances associated with I-40 and therefore relax while someone else pushes the pedals and steers the wheel for you.
Furthermore, the utilization of this service saves one money in not having to use his or her own gasoline. Perhaps what is most important of all in riding the bus is that one is doing his or her part to reduce their own global warming footprint, may I remind you, for free.
Next, I would like to advocate and acknowledge the commitment of the University to energy conservation as this year has been deemed the “Year of Energy.” As a pioneering university in many engineering and scientific fields, the potential that this university has in helping to combat global climate change is tremendous. I would also like to recognize the excellent and indefatigable efforts of the janitorial services that make each and every student’s collegiate experience infinitely better than if they were not provided.
In regards to constructive criticism, I’ll restrict myself to just one comment. The equestrian component of the Campus Police force is inefficient, irrational, and prodigal. Crudely put, it is not only entirely ineffective, but also a waste of time and money.
Well, I will draw this final column to a close and conclude with a thank you to both the Technician for the column space and the responsive reader who makes the writing that much more enjoyable. Farewell to both.
Send your final regards to Warren at [email protected]
