Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: Hornet 60th

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Congratulations to the students, faculty, staff and others who have made The State Hornet so successful for 60 years.

The legacy you have built has brought a great deal of pride to our university. As a valued resource for information and analysis, a tremendous educational tool for our students and an enduring hallmark of Sacramento State, the Hornet has served our campus with distinction.

I have enjoyed seeing the improvements and innovations the paper has made during my time at Sac State (I'll never forget the first time a student reporter showed up with a video camera to interview me). The students' skill in reporting and writing and the overall commitment to excellence in journalism is truly impressive.

Readers across the campus community tell me that accuracy, balance and fairness are stronger than ever. Right along with this reputation is a business side to the paper that is growing as well.

Over the years, the Hornet has asked me some tough questions, but I appreciate the opportunity to help tell the university's story. When I see Hornet staffers at campus events, I am reassured that everyone will be able to read about the tremendous work being done by everyone at Sac State. It also has been a pleasure to meet with the editorial board, and the paper's website is on my daily must-read list.

The continuous improvement shows me there is a wonderful passion for journalism at Sac State. Every year, a different editor takes the reins and embraces the task of maintaining continuity while making his or her own mark. It's one of our university's best tests of leadership, and watching first-year reporters grow into editors is a rewarding aspect of my job.

Especially in light of the struggles faced by the news media across the nation, I applaud the devotion of the students who seek to pursue journalism as a career. A free, impartial press is more important than ever.

Though we don't know what form the industry will take, I believe that educated, innovative journalists will always be in demand. The communication skills taught in our journalism program apply across all disciplines. And hearing the student reporters' stories about what brought them to Sac State and the dreams they hope to achieve gives me the utmost confidence that the future of journalism is being shaped right now, right here at Sac State.

Many chapters of the university story remain to be told, and I am confident that the Hornet will continue to provide the news and analysis our campus has come to expect.

Thank you for your contributions to Sac State and its students. I wish you many more years of success.

Alexander Gonzalez, Sacramento State president

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