I am sure whoever steps foot in The Oakland Post never truly forgets about it. Whoever stops by the always-full newsstands — not a sign of incessant restocking but of missing readership — remembers something. I am sure those who cross the door or those who scare a sleeping reporter with the occasional phone call will always have something to say. I’m sure I’ll always think back to The Oakland Post.

This letter attempts to be a tribute to those who stay at The Post. It is a standing ovation to the reporters who walk through the snow, approach crime scenes and exchange endless emails to land an interview. It might fall short of a thank-you to the photographers who arrive at the scene on short notice, hands full of equipment and ready to snap front-page photos.

It is an ever grateful salutation to the funniest, most constructive and entertaining graphics team that’s great to forget your worries with or receive feedback from. Or it could also be an applause to the great editors who now mentor the next generation of talented journalists.

It definitely is a celebration of the marketing, ads and distribution teams that prevent the writers from speaking into the void and give us a fighting chance against the digital era’s oblivion. This last letter from the Editor is nothing more than my most sincere thank-you to the Post.

Being able to partake in grassroots journalism, entrench oneself in campus culture and develop professional skills while earning money on the side is the perfect combo for anyone at Oakland University. Only The Post offers that.

The Post stands as the best opportunity to make mistakes and grow from them. It was the perfect internship with a memorable community. Without it, I wouldn’t be half the journalist I am today. For that, I am ever thankful for The Post.

It is thanks to the most intentional and devoted leadership preceding me that this was possible for me and for all other students. Coming from a legacy of talented students, this college publication not only crafts professional reporters but also emerging leaders

I want to thank Chelsea Bossert, who established the post as a cultural reference point on campus and was able to sail through some of the most vicious winter storms in decades. Thank you as well to Olivia Chiappelli, who made The Post a learning lab and has been a most patient mentor even after graduation. Also, thanks to Autumn Okuszka, who welcomed me to the best part of college life at the newspaper.

My warmest regards and gratitude go to a reporter who would make Chuck Norris think twice about his prowess; a journalist more cunning than Clark Kent or Peter Parker; a mentor more prominent than most journalists: Garry Gilbert.

As one of the last bastions of print media, Garry stands as one of the most influential people in my career and I am sure in that of all other Posties. His retirement comes at a crucial time for the Post, with a diminishing budget and fewer advertisements. And even after surviving a campus closure and multiple controversies with the admin, it is thanks to the teachings of Gilbert that our newspaper remains focused and resolved to continue informing the university.

While no one goes to OU remembering that there is a campus newspaper, I am sure those who pick it up from time to time, who find it lying around after class, who discover cutouts of it behind books, or peeking through art pieces, will never forget The Oakland Post.

I am sure that the doors to the student-run publication will remain open for years to come, attentive to the daily happenings and occasional crises in the epicenter of opportunities — The Oakland Post.

To The Post, a home away from home.