Aditi Dholakia
As Volume 98 of Technician comes to a close, the end of my tenure as Opinion Editor for this publication comes with it. Coming into this position 18 months ago, I had big dreams about expanding representation, covering controversial topics and all around improving Technician, solely through the Opinion section. On my last day as Opinion Editor, I can admit that I may have set expectations for myself rather higher than I could feasibly achieve as a single individual.
Nonetheless, I can confidently say that the Opinion section is most definitely improved from when it came into my hands a year and a half ago. I would even go as far as to say that the section is the best it has been since I joined Technician, if not longer than that. For this, I have to credit and thank my writers, my co- and assistant editors and my fellow members of the Editorial Board. I also have to give thanks and credit to our readers, who work to keep us accountable for our content, and who provide valuable insight in our publication through guest columns and letters to the editor.
An Opinion section is vital to the form and function of any news organization, but especially to a student newspaper. Where the News section endeavors to keep readers up-to-date and informed, the Opinion section must exist to provide context in which to view news, as well as to provide a platform for discourse about any news.
Moving forward, I encourage the new editors to continue the momentum of the section. Keep representation at the forefront of your priorities. Understand that you are not in this position to please people, and use that to your advantage in the way you keep those in positions of power accountable. Being the editor of the Opinion section is a position of privilege; bear in mind the things you can and cannot, should and should not do with this privilege.
Being Opinion Editor has been a journey of ups and downs. It has been one of the most rewarding, formative experiences of my life, and I am so thankful to have been offered this opportunity 18 months ago. If anyone on campus needs me, you can continue to find me in Technician’s newsroom until December of this year, as a writer and columnist. It has been a pleasure serving the student body of NC State. Goodbye!