That brings the story of Kent JMC to closure. A few thoughts in retrospect.

Writing history is an exciting, saddening, experience. It's vicariously sensing the exuberation felt by young Buryl Engleman as he nurtured an infant journalism program or by Bill Taylor as he saw that program grow and gain national recognition.

It's poring over a picture of Walt Clarke climbing a trans-mitting tower to make sure all connections are sound. It's reading stories and anecdotes and chatting with folks who were students at Kent in the Thirties, Forties and Fifties, and marveling at the passion and loyalty they still feel for the university, the journalism or radio programs, the student media, and the professors who taught them.

It can be bittersweet, too, however. Change. Kent State grew up, as all universities must do. And, when it did, it lost its smallness, its sense of cloistered safety. The journalism and broadcasting programs grew from mere tads to mature entities with hundreds of students. The sense of community is still there, just harder to find and hold on to.

Still, the history of the journalism and broadcasting programs is heady stuff. It's an American story, a Horatio Alger story. It's a story of good people trying to do good things; of students who make faculty think they're young, and faculty who try to make students think, period.

It's good times and hard times. But, it's all part of growing up and older. As Walt Clarke said in a recent letter, "Perhaps it is that long-term process of successes and failures that is the normal path to maturity."

Fred Endres is a professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He has worked for newspapers and magazines and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. He is JMC Web Editor as well as author of "Getting the Paper Out: The History of the Daily Kent Stater." Photo by Val Kelly.

As vibrant and dynamic as our past is, however, the most exhilarating times surely must still be ahead. The new century holds communication wonders to wonder about. The students and faculty of 2037--our 100th anniversary--better work hard to keep the place clicking. Or those who have labored for more than 60 years now to build a strong foundation--the ghosts of the academy--will be back to bedevil them.

Somehow, we don't think that will be necessary.

Hope you enjoyed the story.

Fred Endres

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