Right now it is 2:22am Tuesday November 19, 2002. I am sitting in my CAVE (Cool And Very Electronic apartment) passing a few messages to friends, while contemplating the fact that this is my last column for this season. I've worked hard this semester on the Tech section. Perhaps not as hard as last semester, when I had to generate a lot more content myself, but indeed, I've put more time into Whim and Student Media in general this season.

If you've been watching this section closely, you've noticed a few changes over the semester. The first one is a noticeable increase in content. Rachel Pastirik, our fearless leader raised the bar early. Instead of a minimum of 2 or 3 articles a week, this semester all of Whim's sections were to have a minimum of 4 features. When Rachel told me this over the summer, I about freaked out. Actually, I almost told Rachel she could run the Tech section, and I'd write...that that much content would require me to write lots, and I couldn't do both manage and write. Of course, I'm too good of a neighbor to Rachel, so I stayed on as the Manager, and prayed for a staff.

A staff. Indeed, this has been a strange semester for Whim in general. For the first time in a long while, possibly ever, the Tech section has a "real" staff. For a while there, it seemed that every new face wanted to write for Tech. Things have settled down now, and as you can see, I have a listing of seven staffers who "regularly" contribute. To each writer, I am greatful. I'm painfully well aware that some of them write only because they "have" to (these staffers usually have other positions inside Whim), but I hope they understand that each week they write one article, that's one more week, I don't panic over having enough content for you, our readers. In the end, I'm satisfied with our product, and thrilled with it's quality.

This semester, we brought back Submitted For Your Approval again. Though early in the semester, Katie Tandler handed off the reigns of SFYA to a very capable Amanda Hoffer, one of the most beloved, and longest lasting section traditions continued. By popular request (all 3 of them), I brought back Ask The Geek for it's second season. Above and beyond those two weekly columns, Tech section content as you noticed was a free-for-all. From pumpkins to sex toys, we covered lots, and had a blast doing it. Speaking of sex toys, Andrew's feature on Adult Halloween Toys will return for cameo appearances next semester. Also returning for Season 13 will be our annual "Breast Technologies Week." Be sure you watch for it, because I'm sure the administration will too. Also next semester, I'm planning a sporadic feature "Living With What We Reviewed: Whim Looks Again at the Things We Bought." Yeah, I need to shorten the title.

Also this semester, as an incentive for my staff to write, and write often for me, I sponsored a contest. The most prolific writer in the Tech Section wins a $20 gift certificate to Applebee's. The race was tight, and indeed, was not decided until the last minute. In the end, there was a tie. I tied with Amanda Hoffer, our SFYA columnist. Since it's a tie, she gets the prize. An honorable mention goes to Jonelle Thackston, who with her fiancee's help, nearly bested both weekly columnists. The Thackston-Kinback team does not leave empty handed. They will walk away with a $10 Wal-Mart gift card. Do you want in on the action? As money permits, I'm planning on more prizes next semester to the most prolific published Tech writers. You can join Whim today and see if you can be #1.

Before I close, I wanted to take a moment to mention two folks. Katie Tandler, the creator of SFYA, and cartoonist of the wildly popular "Business As Unusual" cartoon in our Toon section, is moving on to greener pastures. Actually, the pastures her future holds are more like cement, but oh well! Katie's in-person contributions to the Whim staff will be missed, though I doubt we're loosing her completely. Katie will be completing her edumacation somewhere where people can spell. The other person I wanted to mention who is leaving us here at Whim is Jeff Davis. Jeff has managed to accomplish in 3.5 years, something I've not accomplished in 5. He's graduating. Our longtime Vent Section Manager, Jeff is already working, and doing a hell of a job, as a newspaperman. If the Roanoke Times is smart, they'll work hard to hold on to him. Not only will Jeff be missed for his thorough edits on publishing night of the Tech section, but I personally will miss his quick whit, and his level, fair critical view of all things important. During interviews of potential Whim executives, it was always my pleasure to ask the question on "How well do you handle criticism." Always I would ad-lib and would mention me being the second most critical person on staff. I have big shoes to fill in that respect. In a dog-eat-dog world, a publication who's staff can't be critical enough when necessary will die. Jeff has kept us alive. Bleeding us when necessary, but often with level, sound, clear advice on how to get to our goals. As with Katie, I doubt we will totally lose Jeff. Indeed, I need him to write reviews on several new sports cars.

Well folks, I've bored you enough with my reminiscing. <shameless plug> Watch closely for Whim's return next Semester. </shameless plug> I'm excited about where we are, and where we are heading. Season 13 should hold lots of fun and suprizes for everyone. If all goes as planned, Season 13 will be Rachel's last semester as Whim Executive Director. I have no doubts she'll go out with a good bang. So Stay Tuned!