The Round Up has reported on change for over a century. Not only the changes that are seen each semester such as graduations, classes, or new clubs, but also the changes that are entailed during a student’s time in college.

These changes are hardly seen while they are occurring, but in hindsight, they are difficult to miss. We have continued the tradition of reporting on change this semester. We have seen New Mexico State change over from one set of students to a freshmen class that is vibrant, exciting, and full of possibilities, while also saying goodbye to a graduating senior class that has left its mark in the best ways possible.

We have reported on changes in the form of organizations and students that have been able to tell their story to the campus through our outlet, as well as about a change in University leadership that is on the horizon.

Lastly, we have all witnessed perhaps one of the most memorable changes in school history – football, and athletics as a whole, are winners once more, and they have changed droughts, streaks, and hope all for the better this semester.

In the same perspective of hindsight, The Round Up has seen change of our own this semester, and we believe it has been for the better.

This semester has marked the first time in the 110-year history that the storied independent voice of the students of New Mexico State University has not been in print on a consistent basis.

When we made this decision back in March heading into the year, we knew it was a risky task – a tall order – and something that we could not get wrong.

I guess hindsight told us what took us so long.

In less than five months, we have already more than surpassed all of the past two years’ worth of online web traffic combined by over 600%. We have been able to expand our coverage into more areas while having more consistency and more stories than this entity has seen in a long, long time.

Our philosophy, which just last year was built on “staying in line” and coming to work in a suit every day both literally and in our approach, has shifted to something simple: people are people – and people want to be told a good story.

However that story is communicated doesn’t matter. We’ll tell you a story in our writing, as much as we will in our videos, photo galleries, podcasts, heck, even our Twitter timeline.

This approach has paid great dividends not only for a Round Up staff that was once young and is now growing up in front of eyes, but also for you, the readers.

By being able to keep you informed, entertained, motivated – whatever you want to call it – you have played an instrumental part in not only the success of the longest standing student organization on campus, but also in a campus that still has more stories to tell.

Yet, we know we fell short of many things as a news outlet this semester, we’ve been late, we’ve missed a source, we’ve even had typos.

We take not only these shortcomings, but all of your increased feedback to heart, and we promise to use this dialogue to continue to get better.

That being said, we will be signing off for the majority of the winter break.

We will be using this time to rest up for what we promise is a stronger, better, and more fruitful Spring semester to come. 

However, as you always have, do keep following us during this time for all sports home games as well as our coverage of the Arizona Bowl as we will be sending staff to document the historic game.

For all non-sports readers, I would encourage you to check out our editor’s pick’s tab as we have updated it with what we consider some of the best stories we have written this semester as a staff.

And for all readers, we will be hard at work, for the students, once the calendar flips and school begins. We have many stories, investigations, and interviews lined up in the Spring I believe readers will very much enjoy.

As we sit at the end of what we hope was a wonderful semester for you, we would like to wish you a safe and happy Holiday season.

Change is happening, we are glad we continue to be here for the ride.

As I often sign off open letters like this – I encourage all readers, as always, to keep your ears to the ground, and continue to write your own story.

We will see you next time right back here on nmsuroundup.com  

Albert Luna may be reached at [email protected], (575) 646-3743, or @Albert_Luna_ on Twitter.