Rebecca Pollack

Dear Laney Students,
It is with this final issue that I leave my post as Co-Editor-in-Chief at the Tower. But I have learned so much, and I encourage enthusiastic writers to join the staff.
As a student at Laney, I have witnessed the miracles that this place can inspire. People of Oakland, young and old, come here to challenge themselves, develop a fresh start in life, and change their perspective. And these success stories are powerful.
But the institutions that the Tower covers operate in mysterious ways. The lack of transparency, accusations of disregard for the law, and general dysfunction that occurs at all levels of governance point to questions about integrity. 
There are so many potential stories at this place, just waiting to be told. If you want to write for the Tower, remember journalistic integrity. Ask people on all sides of an issue the same questions, read the laws, think both about the big picture and the minutia. 
Take risks! And do it! Because you will learn more than you ever thought you would.

Britt Hart

Writing for the Laney Tower this semester has been a great opportunity. I consider it an honor to be able to hear people’s stories and to be trusted to share that information with you all. I’ve also learned a great deal about all the hard work that goes into creating a newspaper. I hope that the stories that we covered interested and informed you all.
My favorite part of being on the Tower staff was having an excuse to go out, be nosy and ask people questions. While it has been rigorous and challenging to juggle all the responsibilities of the paper with my other responsibilities, it has also been very rewarding.
I got the opportunity to meet new people at school and in the community. It’s also been great to work with the Tower staff and to get to know them better. My advice to the next editor(s) would be to have humor and to keep asking questions. A little tenacity, dedication, communication, organization, and flexibility will also get you far.
Email Britt Hart & Rebecca Pollack at bmoniaeh(at)yahoo.com & rebeccacecile(at)gmail.com