I should probably explain.

What you hold in your hands is not your average, everyday Sun Star. It is the Fun Star, an annual tradition going back generations, established by our journalistic forefathers as a way to celebrate the rites of spring.

OK, so I really don't know how old the tradition is or who started it or why, but every April Fools' we put out an Onion-esque paper poking fun at public officials, odd policies, and anything else that tickles our funny bone.

The stories that fill the next 16 pages are all made up (only the ads, classifieds, and calendar events are real). Some of the stories are silly, some are bitingly satirical, maybe some of them aren't even all that funny to you…but that's really not the point.

When I started working here as a lowly film critic I didn't understand why we put out a Fun Star. Because we're a weekly it means we have an entire week without any real news. If anything important happened on campus the week before April Fools' it would be ignored in favor of a story about zombies or the infamous Bat Boy.

But after some soul searching this week, I think I've figured out what the Fun Star is all about.

I've been told that the Fun Star is one of our most popular issues, and the racks do empty pretty quickly when there's a Fun Star out there (although that could just be a manifestation of a lack of toilet paper on campus).

But I really don't think the Fun Star is for you, the readers. It's a nice plus if you get a few laughs out of it, or stop and think about an issue in a different way, but, really, The Fun Star is for the burnt out reporters and editors here at the paper.

We're all college students like you, and like you we get spring fever, senioritis and pretty much just plain antsy this time of year.

We're tired. We've put out 23 papers this year chuck full of news and features. Every issue drains us mentally, physically and emotionally. We work late hours, weekends, and even over spring break to put out a paper each week. And before we have time to savor our hard work, we're working on the next issue.

We need a break, and the Fun Star is just that. It gives us a chance to relax, come up with a few good jokes, make fun of ourselves and the school, and, basically just laugh a whole lot.

I really don't care if you don't think all of the stories are funny (although I hope you laugh at some of them), because we had fun writing them, and the smiles on my ragged staff's faces proves to me that this year's Fun Star is a complete success.

If you happen to see your name in the Fun Star you should feel lucky, it is a rare privilege to make it onto these hallowed pages. Only the most joke-worthy individuals make the cut.

We mean no offense to anybody (I mean, come on, they're jokes for heaven's sake). And let's face it, some people on campus are pretty silly, and if you can't laugh at yourself there is something seriously wrong with you.

To those who will invariably be offended by something they read in this issue, may I offer you some counsel from Shakespeare:

"If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended,

That you have but slumber'd here

While these visions did appear.

And this weak and idle theme,

No more yielding than a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend:

If you pardon, we will mend.

And, as I'm an honest Puck,

If we have unearned luck

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,

We will make amends ere long;

Else the Puck a liar call:

So, good night unto you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends,

And Robin shall restore amends."

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