“The ball is round.
The game lasts 90 minutes.
Everything else is pure theory.”
— Sepp Herberger

To say my high school had an attitude problem would be like saying Atilla the Hun was an angry guy. Recently built, it drew its student body from two rival schools. Early on, we were split by a rift. Many students — especially upperclassmen — failed to branch out from their old cliques. Over time, the younger students bridged this gap by developing what might be called anti-school spirit. We booed at pep rallies. We threw water balloons at the house principal. I can’t even begin to imagine how administrators must have felt.

There are few things worse than representing an apathetic or downright hostile constituency. Reading this week’s feature (See “Electing SG: The 2011-2012 Presidential Candidates” on page 16.), I was reminded of my high school’s dilemma.

While I have my share of complaints about SG, I can certainly empathize with the issues it faces. Despite alarmingly low voter turnout at SG elections, students are quick to voice their disapproval of a system they failed to support in the first place. It’s a Gordian Knot that, while acknowledged, still presents a problem.

But SG does have one thing going for it — it knows who it represents.

As for us? For the past 60 years, REPORTER has made our home in basements. Through obscenity charges, staff member arrests and confiscated magazines, we’ve gained a reputation as kids throwing spitballs at the administration. Sometimes, it seems, we’re content to stay that way. Sometimes we lose sight of our true mission: serving RIT’s student population, faculty and staff.

It’s far too easy to become complacent. It’s comfortable down here, nestled snugly away in the basement of the Campus Center. I’d certainly like to cozy up in that bowl chair in the corner of the office, throw on some sweet tunes and nap away. Doing only what I myself wanted would be easy. But that’s not my job. There’s a sea change going on in the journalistic world, and, from this vantage point, anything is possible. The choice is in my hands. Or, more accurately, it’s in yours.

So, I leave you with a challenge: Shake up my world. Call Rings — leave me a message. Shoot me an email. Visit our office and introduce yourself; I dare you. The room is A-730. Let me know what you want. If you never start that dialog, I can only do so much to serve you.

My name’s Alex. I’m new here. But this isn’t about me.

We’re your magazine. We release 30 issues a year. The rest is up to you.