Borderlands: From the Editor 15 (1997)

Article first published in Vol. 15, 1997.

By Sandra R. Pierce, Editor

Most readers of Borderlands can never comprehend the time and work involved in creating a student writing project like Borderlands unless they have worked on a similar publication.  It literally takes hundreds of people to make a paper such as Borderlands successful.

From left, Ruth Vise, Faculty Editor & Advisor; Tony Barron, Artist; Sandra R. Pierce, Editor. Photo by Ray M. Pierce

Although it is exciting to see the paper all come together, it would never be possible without the college staff, professors, librarians, individuals contributing information and interviews, editors and, especially, EPCC students.  They spend endless hours researching, interviewing, learning and typing in order to meet requirements for acceptable term papers.  Papers that are the bases for these feature articles must meet even higher criteria.

Changes on the border during the second half of the 20th century was a difficult topic for me when we first began editing this year, and I was convinced that each of the stories was entirely too serious.  But when I realized that in just a few years the changes that are made today will be history, I started to comprehend and enjoy the work that was set before me.

Sure enough, I became enthralled in the stories just as I do every year as they come to life under my fingers on the keyboard.  I have come to the realization that I must really thrive on this excitement as this is my third year of working on the paper.

It has been with pleasure that I have worked on Borderlands, meeting new people whom I’ll always remember and learning at each step of the publication process.  Thanks to Ruth Vise, faculty editor, who has made Borderlands what it is today and who has always believed in me.

Thanks also to my husband Ray who understands me completely and has learned to listen to me just because I need his ear, without judging anything or anyone I speak about.  I would not be able to pursue the many interests in my life if he were not beside me.  I also thank my children Raymond, Amanda and Cherity who have also learned to understand that their mother is a unique though not always calm woman.  I appreciate and love each and every one of them for their patience, love and respect.