From the editor’s desk

We love getting feedback from our readers. Whether its positive or negative any comments, suggestions or story tips are always welcomed.

Recently though, we have been receiving a few comments concerning our relationship with the Office of Student Life. I would like to make it clear that the Accent only reports unbiased news and features with the exception of opinion columns and entertainment reviews.

The main concern brought up was why we chose to run an editorial that did not support Facebook pages Fix Studentlife or ACC Underground and if we felt pressured by Student Life to run an editorial condemning the people behind the pages.

The answer simply is no. Student Life does not have any input on what we choose to run in our paper. All stories that are published are approved by editors and while Student Life can send us story tips, we cannot guarantee that we will run it.

Personally, it is insulting that such an accusation would be made against us. We have an award-winning staff that I am proud of so to shine such a negative light on our paper in my opinion is petty.

I say petty only because by claiming the Accent is in cahoots with Student Life, Fix Student life who has been leaving the comments on our website theaccent.org, Fix Studentlife is only epitomizing exactly the point that our editorial staff was making in our last editorial published on Oct. 4.

Instead of realizing the point we were making, Fix Studentlife, attacked us for covering an event that is important to students which was Occupy Austin.

I'm all for students taking the initiative to speak their minds. Heck, that's what we do in every issue of the Accent. Any student who wishes to voice their opinions is welcome to write us a letter to the editor for consideration to be published in our next issue.

Those who feel that the Accent is serving Student Life are wrong and I hope that this column can clear up any misconceptions otherwise.

Speaking of feedback, the Accent newspaper staff recently attended the Texas Community College Journalism Association newspaper convention at Texas State University on Oct. 14.

There it was announced that our staff and newspaper have won 31 state awards including winning Sweepstakes in our division.

Winning Sweepstakes is an honor that I feel immensely proud of earning. By winning this award, the Accent was named the best community college student newspaper in the state.

I commend the wonderful staff we have currently and former staff members who have contributed to making the Accent an award-winning newspaper.

Those interested in reading or viewing our award-winning work can visit theaccent.org to see the list of awards won.