Publication veteran Marlon Scott reflects on his years as a renaissance man

“The Austin Peay State University Lady Govs soccer team did not play like they were missing starters or that this was their third game this week.”

This was the first line of the first story I wrote for The All State. It was published in the Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006 edition of TAS.

I remember my sense of pride and relief when I read it in the paper under my first byline: Marlon Scott, guest writer.

Since then, I have written, edited, designed, photographed or recorded some kind of content in every issue of TAS. I have been working for TAS a long time.

I still get a special feeling of pride and relief when I see my byline on a story. However, unlike that first time, the emotion comes from knowing all the people and all the work it takes to produce the paper.

I have held eight different positions at TAS, ranging from staff writer to editor-in-chief. I’ve worked in two offices, with three different advisers, two different design programs and under four EICs (not including myself).

I’ve also written in every section, special editions and the yearbook.

It has not been easy. I tell people it takes a special kind of insanity to work for a paper on top of attending school.

No matter what, the paper has to get done. Stories have to be chosen, interviews have to be done, pictures need to be taken, layouts have to be made and mistakes have to be found. Every week I was a cog in a machine that has rolled forward for over 80 years.

Being part of this machine has taught me so much. I didn’t come to school to become a journalist, but working for TAS has made me develop a passion for the field.

I’ve learned how to be a better writer, designer, editor, networker and have learned an infinite number of other skills that I use and improve upon every day.

The best part about working for TAS all this time is the people. They are the reason I have been at TAS so long.

Starting with Mandy Rogers, who hired me, to the Mikes, Young and Kellum, who taught me how awesome sports writing is. I admired and emulated the work ethic and passion for the paper from people like Stephanie Coward and Kasey Henricks.

I thrived and learned because of the support of Tabitha Gilliland and constantly grew in skill and desire along the sides of incredible talents and over-achievers like Patrick Armstrong.

Every semester, members of my TAS family would leave, but I would still be here. Every semester I would welcome new members into the TAS family.

It is great to see people like Jenelle Grewell and Kristin Kittell start off quietly and shyly, but eventually blossom and take over like giant, colorful, talented and smart butterflies.

The unofficial members of TAS, our beautiful and sassy support staff: Rachel, Ashley and Katherine, brightened the office everyday and made the countless hours I spent down there enjoyable.

Honestly, it would take a 10-page special edition to name everyone who has influenced me in some way during my long tenure with TAS.

However, I must admit, I had favorites. The adventures of my A-Team are what I will probably cherish most.

Despite opinions to the contrary, no one had more fun and “completed their missions” better than The A-Team.

The originals: Synthia, Devon, Mateen and Anthony; The Rookies: Dre and Cidnie; Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Morehead, Cincinnati, St. Louis and more, I would not have wanted to do it all with anyone else.

TAS would not be possible without the support of the incredible women in Student Affairs including Sherryl Bird and Tammy Bryant. They are part of the long list of people I owe my deepest, heartfelt thanks to.
I have worked at TAS a long time and it changed my life. The good, the bad and the ugly, I would not change a thing.

I have worked hard and look forward to graduation this semester, but I know wherever I am on a Monday in the middle of January next year, I will feel weird not being in the Student Publications office. TAS

Photographer online media senior Mateen Sidiq cherishes time spent learning with Student Publications

One of the best things that could have happened to me was joining Student Publications and becoming part of a team and a family.

When in high school, this was not on my list of adventures, but I wanted to find more things to do on campus. Of course, this is what I found.

I started in the fall of 2006 as an ad representative, moved up to online assistant editor and then online editor Now, I am a senior staff photographer, still dabbling in the online edition and helping out when I can.

The All State has been a second home to me. I have made so many friends and I have met so many people, not just at APSU, but also at other schools while working with Student Publications.

Through this adventure, I have met some amazing people. The first would have to be Mandy Rogers. She was the one that hired me and I appreciate her every day.

From there, it was nothing but an uphill climb of great people, from Lois Jones, Stephanie Coward, Patrick Armstrong, Dave Campbell and Marcel Gray to Shauna Moss and several others.

Also, I valued working with Tabitha Gilliland who gave me advice when I needed it, as well as the new adviser, Jake Lowary, who has given plenty advice on how to better my pictures and the website.

Thank you, Tabitha and Jake, for such a great adventure. You two being part of the paper has been a great asset to TAS. Thank you and I will miss you both.

To Lois Jones, Patrick Armstrong, Stephanie Martin and Shauna Moss, you guys were nothing but wonderful to me from the worst time of my photography to my best photos. I thank every one of you for allowing me to be part of an amazing photo team.

To Synthia Clark, what a great person and dear friend for pushing me to keep on going when there were times where I was worn out. I still kept on going to produce good photos.

To Marlon Scott, Anthony Shingler and Devon Robinson, you are an amazing group of friends and a brotherhood. I got to know you guys when we went on road trips to cover sporting events. I am so glad we had a chance to bond and also produce an amazing sports page every semester I was there. Thanks guys.

Part of my adventure was stepping out of the circle of the student newspaper and helping out other groups such as Student Affairs, Student Life and Leadership, African American Cultural Center, Education Department and also Sports Info.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to work with you. I have had a blast and will miss all of you. I want to thank you for giving me a chance to work with you.

If anything, I am so glad to have met you guys and I will stay in touch and hopefully come back to do some work for you.

After the experience I have received, I have no regrets from wanting to be a biology teacher to wanting to be a physical education teacher. It has all paid off.

Thank you to the HHP Department for the great professors and staff. If it weren’t for you, I would not be where I am. TAS