Hello.
I’m going to come straight out with it — I’m not Lana, our editor in chief. I’m not even a woman. I’m a man. My name is Mel Flores. My job around here is technically “Assistant Editor,” but anyone who refers to me as that is using the term rather loosely. I’m more like a staff writer who hangs around the basement of the Mathews Center, who will occasionally proof read something or send out a stern email asking for a story.
It’s a good gig. I enjoy it. People seem to be genuinely impressed when they learn my job title. Although, I’ve never been very good at spotting faked enthusiasm. I’m writing this editors note instead of Lana because this is our very first online-only issue and I wrote the cover story. Plus, I’ve never written one of these. It’s fun.
Sadly, things at SPM aren’t the same anymore. Change has hit us hard. First, as I’m sure you know, we had to scale back the magazine at the very beginning of the semester. That meant fewer pages. And fewer pages meant we needed to cut certain sections.
How To, Hot Spot, our revolving features and Voice all were cut out. We managed to save the fan favorite Drink of the Week — at least until now.
After last week’s edition featuring the drink “The Tucker Death Mix,” your wonderful editors of this magazine got into a bit of trouble with our boss. Yes, we have a boss. Everyone does. OK. I’ll be honest. It was pretty much just Lana who got into trouble. As editor in chief, she has final say on all content. But, the way I see it, we are a team, and if she gets into trouble, so do I.
DOTW was never really a big hit with our boss. And that’s fine. I’m sure not every student was a fan either.
In any event, the mess it caused within the last week caused Sam and Kyle, the lads who write and often times feature in the piece, to conclude it was be best to lay it to rest. It had a good run. Rest in piece, DOTW. You will be missed — at least by some.
Moving on to happier news, as I eluded to earlier, we are now a fully online publication. No longer will be mucking up your fingertips every Wednesday. No longer will you be able to roll us up and swat mosquitoes. But, you can read us online at statepressmagazine.com. We are totally SFW. Promise.
Also, I hope you enjoy the cover story, “Married to mischief.” It centers around the AZ Cacophony Society and some of their events. After riding along with them for the Idiotarod and the Brides of March (don’t worry, it’ll all make sense once you read it) I can tell you this: these people are crazy. In a good way.
Enjoy.
Reach the reporter at mel.flores@asu.edu.
