Its been an incredible first year

By Zack Stoycoff
Hillpost Editor

As the first editor of the Hillpost, after hundreds of hours of work, people like to ask if I would do it again. I usually stare at them blankly, so they also ask if I would take it back.

The answer is always yes. Whatever I did to offend you, I would take it back.

If you want to be a journalist, you have to accept that you will probably offend someone with everything you do. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Then apologize—and mean it.

There haven’t been too many reasons to apologize in Hillpost’s first year. Sure, we’ve made mistakes like anyone else—and for that, you bet we’re sorry. But look at what else we did. We created a newspaper at a university with no print journalism degree.

We gave RSU students real life journalism experience.

We offered a dependable, diverse look at life at one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing universities.
We won awards.

And despite only being published monthly, we became the premier source for RSU news and personalities.

Thanks to reader suggestions, we’ve only gotten better. Needless to say, with your support, it’s been a productive first year for RSU’s first independent student newspaper.

I’m even more excited about next year. I graduate this May, but we have a capable staff ready to take the reins. We are putting out a special graduation issue on May 16, and then we take a break for the summer.

Our next full issue will be released the fourth Monday of August with a new editor, new sports edior, new entertainment editor and new features or news editor. Much of the staff will still be here, but we are turning over the reins to a new generation of RSU journalists. We thank you for your continued support.

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By Mary Mackie
Hillpost Advisor

Around this time last year, when Zack Stoycoff approached me about a student newspaper, little did I think then that less than one year later RSU would be home to an award-winning publication.
This first year of the Hillpost has exceeded my wildest expectations, and I think I speak for everyone when I say how pleased, impressed, and proud I am of everyone associated with this great newspaper.

While it seems as if this past year has flown by, I can remember each week, each hour spent by our dedicated staff of editors and reporters, who have always gone above and beyond the call of duty in order to see that the Hillpost arrived on time each month. Without them, this would have been a much different publication.

It is a sad time, too; spring is the time of commencements, and after one short year we must bid farewell to students to whom it is difficult to say goodbye.

Our Entertainment editor, Valorie Vernon will be studying for a semester in Wales in the fall, but will return in the spring. Our Sports Editor, Josh Haley, is graduating and will truly be missed, not only for his all-sports coverage, but for his comprehensive sports knowledge.

I will miss the hours I’ve spent talking Hillcats sports—mostly basketball—with Josh. I wish him well in all his future endeavors.

The motivating factor behind getting the Hillpost up and running is graduating as well.

If it wasn’t for the hard work and determination of Zack Stoycoff, there would be no Hillpost today. We have his tireless efforts to thank for putting this all in motion. He has mentored younger writers, tracked down the elusive contact, and often spent production days hunched over the computer long past time when other mortals were asleep—all to ensure the Hillpost was always the best it could be. Zack, for all you do, thank you.

To all of our editors and writers, photographers and designers, go my heartfelt thanks. I would be remiss not to mention Bailey Dabney, the publisher of the Claremore Progress, who generously gave our editors time to learn Quark so they could design the paper, and who continues to support the Hillpost in every way he can. Also thanks to Nicole Nascenzi, from RSU’s PR department for always being willing to offer her expertise in all things newspaper-related.

She has been a tremendous support for our budding journalists.

One last bit of thanks, to all of our readers, who have offered so much by way of encouragement and support. I know it is our hope to continue to bring you the kind of Hillpost you’ve come to know over the past year.

We wish you all a safe summer and look forward to beginning our second year of publication in August.