So this is it. Although I will be continuing my services at the Daily this summer, for most of you, this is my last column.

First off, I have a little advice for all those aspiring journalists-to-be. Go to the Daily and apply now. The last three years working for the Daily have made up a very special part of my life. The experience that you will gain is incredible, while the friends you will make are certain to be life-long. I can’t say enough about the cast currently employed by the Daily. They are wonderful people with wonderful talents.

I’d like to thank our very own Editor in Chief Chris Miller for letting me speak my mind, even if it does mean pissing off the university Committee on Women. I also extend my thanks for the push to send the sports staff to the NCAA basketball tournaments, a feat that has not been done since the ancient Paul Kluding worked here three years ago. Chris has been, by far, the best editor since I’ve been here, and I think the quality of the paper, as a whole, reflected his talents.

I’d like to send out props to every desk editor this semester for working their asses off to make sure that we were always pushing ahead as a paper instead of standing still.

Props also have to be sent to Corey “Ice Ice Baby” Moss. Corey is a friend of mine, and is a true asset to the Daily. I must also send props to the Plank Road Brewery for inventing Icehouse, my best friend. I’ve learned that you definitely always should say what you feel. If you want to use the word “hooters,” use it. If the Committee on Women, a senior editor or a plant pathologist doesn’t like it, who gives a crap. It’s her problem and she needs to work it out with herself.

I’ve also learned that if you speak your mind you, will be labeled. I’ve been called insensitive, sexist and racist along with many other colorful words for venting my thoughts. To that I say, I forgive you all for your limited understanding. Call me what you will. In the larger scope, it’s good that you’re at least speaking your minds. You see, if you speak your mind, it can never be taken back. My thoughts were spilled and they never can be cleaned up. So deal with it! In short, if you think it, say it. You have just as much right as anyone else to speak freely.

I’d like to thank the many people whom I’ve met at the bar, in class, on spring break (you guys know who you are) and at shows that have supported me and my thoughts. It always meant a lot to me to here that there are people out there who understand the way my brain works. You guys and gals rock.

So what should I leave you with? 15 inches really isn’t enough space for me to say how I feel. But I’ll give it a go. Always have a sense of humor. If you don’t, then you suck and nobody will want to be your friend. Piss those off who deserved to be pissed off, grin at your enemy, beat the dead horse, call it like it is, never bite your lip, give a lot of love to those you deem worthy, never take anyone, including yourself, too seriously, drink lots of Icehouse, tear down the goal post, sing songs in your head out loud and never ever compare the characters of your friends. It’s been nice talking to you all, and I say the with the deepest of devotion. We won’t talk later.

Goodbye friends. It’s been fun.

CHAD CALEK is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Persia. He is the sports editor of the Daily.