The Settler

Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Kayla Turnbow The cover of this semester's Pioneer gives a preview of what is inside: Big Business, Green Tips, Politics, Alternative Fuel, and more.

Last week, Volunteer State Community College's student magazine, The Pioneer, hit the stands.

The issue has a "green" theme this semester.

Billy Ledbetter, The Pioneer's managing editor, said that he knew he wanted that to be the theme since last semester.

"There are so many things we can do to make the world a better place," said Ledbetter. "That was the reason for the articles. People tend to be apathetic about things that matter, like taking care of the earth."

"The magazine is about trying to make a difference, and I feel like I am," he added.

Sarah Sommer, copy and assistant editor of The Pioneer, said that the staff had been working on the issue the entire semester.
She explained that they had to work weekends and many late nights to get it all together.

She also said that they could not establish the layout of the magazine until they had gotten all of their material in, so they had to make changes to the magazine the day before they sent it to the presses.

"They've worked hard to ensure quality and professionalism," said Clay Scott, faculty advisor of The Pioneer. "I don't think the reader will be disappointed."

Ledbetter said he became a vegan to write the feature article.

Ledbetter got the idea to write an article about veganism from a PETA press release, he said.

"After the third to fourth week [of being vegan], I felt better, slept better, and lost weight," said Ledbetter.

He said he has begun cooking vegan meals from vegan cookbooks for himself and his wife.

"I'm proud of who I've become in the last six months," said Ledbetter about his life after giving up meat.

He also said that though he fights the urge to eat meat, because he likes the taste, he wants to remain a vegan for the rest of his life.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools