Here on the campus of Cassius University it has begun to feel like autumn, with the leaves changing colors the temperatures at last beginning to cool off. But the fall season also heralds another milestone: the awarding of the annual Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award! As you may recall, this prize was established by Dean Robbers as a means of honoring someone "whose role in the course and/or study of Mopologetics has had an enormous and undeniable impact on the field." Of course, what this means has evolved over time, as the list of past honorees no doubt demonstrates. And there can be no question that this year's winner is exemplary in terms of demonstrating the current state of Mopologetics. My dear friends, I hope you'll help me in congratulating this year's Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award:
Martin Tanner!!!
Tanner was the award committee's undisputed choice for two reasons: first, because of his apparent role in the cancelation of Interpreter's radio program. While he was not openly identified as one of the causes, he was the headliner of the re-booted YouTube version of the show, which was lambasted by Interpreter President Daniel Peterson as being "awful" and "embarrassing," with "production quality" that was "absolutely terrible." So bad was this YouTube version that Interpreter seems to have abandoned the project entirely in favor of a "podcast format."
Meanwhile, perhaps alone amongst all Interpreter participants/"volunteers," Tanner's online bio is completely blank. It's almost as if he doesn't exist, or is being made to "disappear," or being ushered off-stage, where he won't "cause any more problems." Indeed, the Martin Tanner of 2025 was so indicative of the current state of Mopologetics that he apparently either wasn't invited to--or decided not to attend--Intepreter's Annual "Birthday Bash." (Fast-forward to 19:20 in the video, where Editor Allen Wyatt, wagging a rather menacing index finger, notes that he doesn't "see Martin" amongst the party-goers, who were nonetheless advised to contact Tanner if they want to know anything about the radio show.)
Clearly, Tanner's role in Mopologetics this year has been singular and definitional and he has helped to exemplify the state of the field at the current moment. Bearing all that in mind, I hope you'll join me in congratulating Tanner on this milestone achievement!
