This is Not My Fault
I am not in charge of a nonexistent campus newspaper. I am the co-editor. I could have been the editor, bull
did not want the blame. Even so, my job entails more work than being editor-in-chief would. It s easy to be
behind a publication that doesn’t exist. It’s difficult to be partially responsible for one.
Once a day I must remind the editor that he is in charge of the school paper. He usually responds with
"Oops " and sometimes he sighs. He often asks me for article ideas to give to starving writers and I throwk
thmgs’like "Students Take Trip" or "Club Celebrates Diversity." I do this so he will stop pestering me, but on
staff seems happy with these stories. I am required to bitch with him when these writers don t turn their
stories m, and I also get to ask for his articles. Judging from his responses, this is not a question editors liketo
be asked.
The best part of my job would be copy-editing, but without articles, my talent for criticism is wasted.
Chances are, if any articles were turned in, half of them wouldn’t make it past our sponsor. We have a rule,no
stupid stuff If there is ever something to read in The Lance, the editor will take full responsibility in the
event that you think a story is stupid. He will then beat me over the head and curse our supervisor for letting
it get past us.
Sometimes prospective staff members talk to me like I am in a position to do something. I don t know what
they want me to do. Depending on my mood I ignore them, grunt, or tell them they have to talk to the editoi
He’s very good at hiding, so this lays them low for a few days. There are more people who want to write for
The Lance than you would think. If they actually did write, well now, that would be something.
Most important, I am in charge of the "Take Back The Lance" movement. Even now, angry protestors are
descending upon The Lance office in LA and discovering it unlocked. This happens a lot. I have to makesuii
the mess is cleaned up.