To the readers of the East Tennessean,
This past year has been a tremendous success for the publication. As it has been widely celebrated the past few months, the East Tennessean marked its centennial.
I would like to thank the loyal readers of this publication for their constant interaction and feedback. It is important to note that we would not be the publication we are without your support.
This publication would not be the same without our staff and especially our fearless leader, Allison Winters. Allison has done so much for the East Tennessean throughout the last four years as a staff member. Her work and talent have become a highlight of the publication during the last two years, where she has served as executive editor.
At the beginning of April, I was asked to make a send-off video for Allison, which played during our end-of-year celebration ceremony. As I rattled my brain for the right words, all I kept thinking to myself was: “I really hope I can continue Allison’s legacy.” I even blamed Allison, in the video, for leaving such a large pair of shoes to fill.
Although every staff member at the East Tennessean will miss Allison Winters, I am certain we will not have seen the last of her. Allison is going to be doing outstanding things here in the Tri-Cities, and I know she will be successful in every role she plays a part in.
As we move forward to the 2023-2024 academic year, there is going to be a lot of change happening around campus. Students will be learning in Lamb Hall for the first time since 2021. At the same time, the Campus Center Building will begin to be replaced.
Additionally, there will be many differences in student academics. As the different colleges around campus become restructured, students will notice changes in how their major is classified. As I have been assured, all these changes are to help ETSU be recognized nationally.
As for the East Tennessean, we will be working effortlessly throughout the academic year to bring you important news across campus.
My goals for my time as executive editor are to help popularize the publication in student life. I am not saying that we are not popular, but as a delivery driver, I have found that we recycle a lot of our physical copies. As I move into this position, I would like students to pick up the paper more often and increase our digital readership.
Additionally, I think it is important to keep track of the goals that our Student Government Association representatives have promised students. President-elect Trent White has already contacted me and scheduled a time to discuss our respective goals. Ultimately, I am excited to see what he, Brooke Patterson and Skylar Brackett will do to improve our student body while reporting on these accomplishments.
As I close out on this semester, I can only look back on what we have reported around campus. We have covered the many voices that make up campus life. From covering government bans on TikTok, drag shows and the Tennessee Three, to the announcement of the Broadway Series at the Martin Center to Greek life to events hosted by our many student organizations, this has been a year for the books.
Here’s to next year fellow Buccaneers, let’s make it a good one.
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