The Technician had it’s chance for redemption after letting down so many NC State fans who appreciated the tradition of printing a Daily Tar Hell, the spoof of UNC’s student paper. You can revisit the story from last year on our entry here along with a response from the former editor of the Technician
We made it. It has been six days since we didn’t publish The Daily Tar Hell, and with the exception of one man who wrote to tell me he “died a little inside” due to the absence of the spoof paper, it appears life will go on.
Nevertheless, I’ve been told I “owe fans, students, and alumni an apology,” so if you are among those who share that sentiment, stop reading this now.
I am not sorry, and I owe nothing to anyone who only picks up the paper once a year to read a joke edition.
He continues
However, the truth is if I had nothing better to do than to twiddle my thumbs or troll the Wolfpack Students Facebook page, I would still be too busy to produce a spoof paper.
Why? Because that’s not my job, and anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken.
Nowhere does my job description say I am required to produce a paper mimicking The Daily Tar Heel. I didn’t decide to work for a newspaper to write jokes, and contrary to the beliefs of some people, neither did the majority of the editors who came before me.
You can read more here but I don’t know why you would.
The new editor preemptively wrote a column letting us know he wouldn’t be doing a DTH either. You can find that here
Although I am not worthy of a qualified opinion on the subject as I am just some dude, I think Owen Good and Nate Johnson, who are both respected and experienced media folks, have an opinion worth noting.
http://twitter.com/owengood/status/555392326605213696
@NCStateFootball EIC says Technician is a "teaching and learning experience.” Why not give students the chance to learn humor & satire?
— Nate Johnson (@nsj) January 14, 2015
@NCStateFootball If #CharlieHebdo teaches us anything, it’s that humor and satire matter, and doing it well & responsibly is not easy.
— Nate Johnson (@nsj) January 14, 2015
All is not lost though, we all owe a little appreaciation to the students who are doing what they can to create their own DTH
No 'Daily Tar Hell' from Technician, so some other kids took it upon themselves to do their own version. https://t.co/erTdHTMoHj
— Joe Ovies (@joeovies) January 14, 2015
It is still a work in-progress but you can following along here https://theartifexncsu.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/dailytarhellf.pdf
TWITTER REACTS
The reaction from fans today wasn’t any better. I guess others, like myself, clung to the hope that maybe they had a change of heart and realized they let down a large portion of the fanbase by killing yet another NC State tradition.
http://twitter.com/NITStan/status/555394199701704705
http://twitter.com/UMwolfpack87/status/555393440394268672
This headline sorta contradicts you. And probably gave you the most pub you’ve had in years, so… pic.twitter.com/hA6kFFpEOm
— Weather Moose (@WXMoose) January 14, 2015
Some former Technician staff members weighed in on Twitter.
@ncsutechnician Back from my day when I worked at Technician. pic.twitter.com/kZZzHdWHRN
— Steven Hodges (@steven_hodges) January 14, 2015
http://twitter.com/austin_johnson/status/555390755515404288
@NITStan @DerekMedlin @austin_johnson @owengood That being said, working on spoof issues was most fun and created my best college memories.
— Tim Peeler (@PackTimPeeler) January 14, 2015
I understand there was no Daily Tar Hell for a second-straight year.
"Then my father is truly dead…" pic.twitter.com/pVqmkyb2XN
— James Curle (@JamesCurle) January 14, 2015
http://twitter.com/owengood/status/555400311612141568
I'll say this of @ncsutechnician editor Ravi K. Chittilla: he comes across as WAYYYYY less of a dick that the pompous EIC from last year.
— James Curle (@JamesCurle) January 14, 2015
http://twitter.com/owengood/status/555392707594829824
http://twitter.com/austin_johnson/status/555393248714555392
