Author's Note: this originally appeared in the December 6, 2017 edition of the Globe, which marked my last letter as that paper's editor.
I’ve always been far more interested in
the bookends of life than I have been with the in between bits. It makes
sense for my chosen field, I guess. After all, journalism professors
encourage you to seek out anecdotes about turning points in your
subjects’ lives.
The downside to being so preoccupied with
the major twists in life is that you forget to look at the moment
you’re currently in unless it’s a moment of transition. I’ve personally
challenged myself this semester to not look at what will eventually be,
but rather, what is actually happening in that moment.
I can’t say I’ve had much success with
living in the moment, but there have been some amazing moments these
past 12 months. We celebrated the paper’s 50th anniversary with an
incredible gala. Our staff survived the great Lawrence Hall flood and
#globetastrophy of 2017. We documented the full-time faculty union
forging their first contract. We brought you stories of triumph,
heartbreak and everything in between.
Week after week, I am impressed with how
creative our staff is, in both finding stories and designing this paper
each week. Editors have kick-started our Pioneer Public video series, an
Arts and Entertainment Section and countless other flairs that have
consistently raised the bar for our publication.
Have we fallen short? Sure. I personally
messed up last week’s front page headline, we still have no
on-the-record idea of when the Starbucks on campus will open and I’m
waiting to hear back on the status of touring the Playhouse, but all in
all, I would say this has been a fantastic run.
I’m continually grateful for the staff
here at the Globe, my supportive friends and family and the folks who
actually read the paper every week. I cannot tell you how many hours
I’ve spent in 710 Lawrence Hall, but I can tell you there’s no group
more talented, creative or bizarre than the people who put this paper
together every week.
I would be remiss without thanking
Kristin Snapp, Josh Croup, Anthony Mendicino, Dave Grande, Gina
Catanzarite, Dr. Hallock, Dr. Dorsten, Dean Paylo, Caleb Rodgers, Lou
Corsaro and the countless others who have helped me grow as both a
journalist and administrator this year.
The impossible thing about collegiate
newspapers is that this paper must be a teaching tool and a tool to
inform. Our staff are all at once editors, students and teachers. We’re
in a unique position in that the turnover is ridiculous, but without
fail, and sometimes out of sheer spite, the Globe keeps on going. We
prove every week that a volunteer army can achieve incredible things.
And I’m thankful for that.
Call me crazy, but I believe we’re headed
in a positive direction as a field. I feel like this campus, region and
country are hungry for a group of journalists willing to go an extra
mile to share the truth with the electorate, and I hope what we’ve been
able to accomplish in 2017 demonstrates that the next generation of
journalists are here to meet that challenge.
I’ve thought quite a bit about this
bookend in my life – and while I will miss the rush of leading a team of
talented individuals, I look forward to rejoining as a writer with the
perspective of the whole. In the end, legacy means next to nothing at a
college level.
To my incredible staff – I wish you the
absolute best. You’ve taught me so much about this paper, this campus
and myself. To my fourth floor Thayer sister and our next chief, Emily
Bennett – I wish you calm winds, following seas and to be blessed with
an amazing staff like I have been.
To Point Park – Keep fighting the good fight.
Go. Fight. Win.
Thanks for reading,
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