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In the Fourth Estate

In the 1935 "Razorback" yearbook, W.J. Lemke wrote the following ode to student journalists:

Student publications are a unifying force on the Arkansas campus. They are builders of morale and school spirit. Giving time and space without stint to other university activities, they help make the success of athletics, dramatics, departmental organizations, scholarship and honor societies, possible.

The student journalist, whether on the Traveler, "Razorback," Stooge, Engineer or Agriculturist, puts in long hours and hard work. But he gets no cheers from the bleachers, no applause from a packed auditorium, no eulogies in type. He is fortunate if he escapes caustic criticism from his readers or censorship from the powers that be.

The quarterback can fumble a punt and in the heat of the game his error is overlooked. The debater can quote a fallacy, the actor mouth his lines, the trombonist blow a sour note, or the politician make an idle promise. These are minor matters and soon forgotten. But let the journalist make an error in print and it is there for all the campus to see and has all the permanence of printer’s ink.

The student journalist knows that his rewards are few and his honors transitory. He knows the penalty of a mistake in print. Yet he accepts the rules of the game and plays it to the better. He deserves a cheer.