The nature of TJ

By Staff

Illustration by Courtney NiskalaThere’s a popular saying in the South: let by-gones be by-gones. It means one should look past transgressions and bad blood, and a new, conciliatory mood should replace the former hostile sentiment.

The Johnsonian thinks this philosophy has some merit and would like to apply this thinking as we begin the new semester.

In the past, this newspaper has been outspoken about issues such as the need for a stronger committment to a democratic student voice and the need for less top-down governing by campus leaders.

We will continue to do that.

We will present to our readers information and entertainment they want and need.

We will do all this in the spirit of allowing by-gones to be bygones. Criticism from this paper will be given when warranted, not for the sake of grinding a habitual ax.

We will not bash the administration — as some people have called it — just to bash the administration. To continue doing something just because it has been done in the past is not helpful or interesting to our readers.

We do not promise to be sugary sweet all the time, but we do aim to be thoughtful and responsible with our words.

Subjects like the potential change to the smoking policy on campus and the inability of the faculty to appeal more than just promotion and tenure to the Board of Trustees.

Last year, Council of Student Leaders Chair Sydney Evans said she was willing to work toward implementing aspects of a democratically elected student government. We’d like to see that happen, so we’re going to hold the current student governmnet to that.

We realize President DiGiorgio’s schedule requires him to be off campus a fair amount of time, especially to lobby on our behalf in Columbia, but we do think it’s important that students and faculty see him out and about more this semester.

It’s a new semester, and we have much to be thankful for.

In addition to new buildings and new faces on campus, The Johnsonian is very thankful, especially for its budget.

University publications have not been immune to campuswide budget cuts. Although the university had to cut the budget for many published items, money was not taken from The Johnsonian this year.

Our publishing costs, staff payroll and operating costs are supplemented by advertising revenue but, just as athletics and other student organizations, fundraising doesn’t cover all the bases.

Student publications, which includes the enclosed Roddey McMillan Record and the annual Anthology, could have been on the chopping block this year.

To whoever made the decision to maintain our seed money from Winthrop, we are grateful you understand the importance of Winthrop’s student press.