In Gratitude, The Spectator says, “Good-bye.”

Anyone who knows a group of conservatives and libertarians will affirm that we often do not agree on much. But one thing on which there is widespread agreement at the Spectator is that the departing seniors of our journal of opinion have made many important contributions.

Ms. Roxanne Palmer
Perhaps the greatest contribution of all came from the brilliant artistic mind of Roxanne Palmer, who drew a Brown bear with a shotgun for an article on the Second Amendment. That was in the fall of 2006. Little did she know at the time how popular it would become. Soon thereafter it was adopted as the Spectator’s official mascot, grafted onto recruitment posters and even Spectator tee shirts and polos. For this gift, the staff of the Spectator will remain forever grateful.

But Roxanne has contributed much more than just a mascot. In her time at the Spectator, which has lasted well over two years, she contributed a number of articles and more than thirty illustrations — ranging from Gerald Ford as an angel to Jesus hitting a bong. Roxanne, to be sure, was one of the few Democrats on staff, and so we are not too sad to see her go. Just kidding — she will be sorely missed, especially because her reliability in getting the Spectator truly original art was never in question.

Mrs. Peter Catsimpiris
As the President of the Students for Liberty, Peter Camsimpiris was always a staff member near and dear to the Spectator. At heart, we are an anti-statist, anti-collectivist journal of opinion, although the conservatives on staff surely did (and still do) outnumber the libertarians. Regardless, when challenged, Peter was quick to defend his libertarian ideals, and always in a manner that would cut through rhetoric so as to locate first principles and to destroy all opposition conclusively.

Peter was able to offer searing analyses of many very sensitive issues, ranging from whether organs should be bought and sold on an open market, to whether torture is categorically unacceptable. His article arguing that Christianity is a perfectly rational scientific worldview (and the subsequent, spirited response to a letter) was a truly wonderful addition to a journal of opinion that usually deals with the typical political issues of the day. Peter will be missed, especially as the scheming conservatives will now run the show.

Mr. Pratik Chougule
We could not say enough kind things about Pratik Chougule, who graduated early in the fall semester, to take a political appointment in the State Department. We were a little upset to see our beloved Editor-in-Chief depart, but we know that he is doing some great work there, even though it may unfortunately be neoconservative work.

Pratik took over the Spectator in the fall of 2005, as a sophomore with little experience at the Spectator. It was a time of turmoil, as the two previous Editors-in-Chief had resigned in quick succession. Somehow, he righted the ship and captained it for two years. Not only did he steer us in the right direction, but also he knew how to attract more staff members to our crew — even if it meant making us all senior editors. With his sincerity and kindheartedness, he took the staff from barely three to more than two dozen; he also took the magazine from one issue a year to seven.

Mr. Andrew Kurtzman
Our departing Editor-In-Chief, Andrew Kurtzman, deserves only slightly less praise. In his two and a half years on staff, he wrote more than a dozen articles and somewhat altered our production process. As Managing Editor for Production, or, as he would have prefered, Production Manager, he did some things that people thought were generally acceptable if not uninspiring. In typical Kurtzman style, he looked at our production, decided that it was not good enough, and changed it only cosmetically, deciding that this was important for some reason or other. The rest, as they say, is history. Not only did he redesign the lay-out and help to get more artists to draw original art, but also he took us to a color cover and, recently, to a glossy one, primarily to discourage the rampant use of the Spectator as toilet tissue.

Andrew was one of the more dedicated people on staff. And while he always contributed to the genial warmth of our meetings, often with unappreciated wise cracks, he had mostly over-played jokes which no one is going to miss. Yes, Andrew, we know that you are so fed up with us that you just might leave the country. Just do not forget to spend your stimilus package on English goods and services. For your London adventure and all the others to come, Andrew, we wish you the best of luck.

Good luck and best wishes to all of our graduating seniors. Do not forget to donate to the Spectator, and to all the little people who helped you, when you become fabulously wealthy.