I F YOU told me four years ago that I would be involved in the school newspaper I would have laughed. I don't like to write. I had never really read much more then the headlines and comics. I had never even considered a career in the newspaper business. So why would someone like me devote much of their time in college to putting out a daily newspaper?
I began my Cavalier Daily career in the online department. The department was still relatively new at that point. My job entailed going down to Newcomb Hall basement at unholy hours of the night to spend a few hours getting the stories of the day formatted for the web. The only people I knew outside the online staff were a few of the production department who would linger around and the Managing Board.
The Managing Board showed so much devotion that I was instantly hooked. These were people who were putting upwards of 50 hours a week into the newspaper while being full time students. At times they seemed tired beyond belief and ready to collapse on the spot. Yet they almost always had smiles on their faces and showed a true pride in what they were doing.
Even then, when I had little to do with the print edition of the paper, a small smile would cross my face every time I saw someone reading a copy. Just knowing that I was a part of the organization that produced it filled me with a satisfaction I had never before experienced. That smile still crosses my face today.
I steadily became more and more involved in the paper. I don't even remember how it happened or if I made a conscious decision to do so. But sure enough, I ended up down in that basement nearly every night helping out wherever I could.
It was not until the 2000 Associated Colligate Press convention that I realized how truly special The Cavalier Daily and the University of Virginia are. We always talk about student self-governance and I was starting to think it was little more then a buzzword. That conference was the first time I saw our situation in a full context. Nearly every other paper there was totally dependent on their faculty advisers for tasks ranging from editing to dealing with administration to financial stability. It seemed that without their advisers most of these well-respected college newspapers would be completely crippled.
The Cavalier Daily has been around for over 100 years without a faculty adviser. Just the suggestion that we have someone to look over our shoulders and make the tough decisions for us makes my stomach turn. The entire atmosphere of mutual respect and companionship that makes the paper such a great place to be would be severely jeopardized if an adviser was put into place.
There were two events that occurred on that trip that will live in my memory for years to come. The first was winning the Online Pacemaker award, an award consistently referred to as "the Pulitzer of college newspapers," without the help of an adviser. The second was buying my first bowtie, a dull yellow job with red and blue dots.
I was wearing that same bowtie when I was elected to the Managing Board around this time last year, the same board that I once looked upon with awe. Being on the MB has been an experience like no other. In addition to getting an inside view of the dealings of the University, I got the chance to work with amazing people who were stretched beyond the breaking point of any normal person and handled it with grace.
John, I can only begin to understand the depth of your strength and commitment. You have shown me what a leader should be.
Adam, I don't know how you are still alive. A human being shouldn't be able to keep the schedule you have and still maintain the energy level you do. Hopefully we'll get the chance to spend some relaxing time at the house in this next semester.
Jen, my officemate and co-keeper of the futon, writing this one piece for the paper has given me more respect for the job you did every day. You did a wonderful job dealing with the rest of us guys on the MB.
Sam, I have seen no one better at connecting with the staff than you have been. Your patience and talent have earned my continuing respect.
To the lovely AMEs, all of you made the basement a better place to be. Katie, you have been a great friend and a fantastic tap dancer. Erin, you never failed to put a smile on my face when you were around. Rachel, I have always been impressed with your style and charm.
To Online Managers past and present, Portman, Sean and Aaron, I am proud to have my name listed alongside yours in that list. You have all taken the online edition father than all expectations and I am confident that you have the strength and leadership to continue to do so in the future.
Eric, most people down at the office only know a fraction of what you do and still consider you a god. You really have had a profound influence on the way the paper operates. It's also been good to have another Computer Science major around to complain about all those horrible classes. (To any CS professors reading this, we only had positive things to say about your class.)
Shelly, thank you for putting up with me for a whole year. We tried some interesting things. Some worked out better then others, but overall it was a success. I hope I didn't cause you to much additional stress. I think I finally got most of those inserts straightened out.
Sharon, your contribution to the paper simply can not be measured. I don't know how I would have survived the past year without you.
To the 112th JB, you were the ones that pushed the quality of the paper higher then it's ever been. It was a pleasure working with every one of you.
To the 113th MB and staff, I'm sure you will all do a fantastic job. Just remember to have fun and to stop and breath every once in a while. Justin, I hope it doesn't take to long to sort out the mess I left you.
To Meredith, thank you for keeping my feet on the ground and for your patience. You have been a very important part of my life this past year. I love you very much.
To my parents, thank you for your continued support of my newspaper habits despite my declining grades. You both continue to surprise me as I grow. Stop crying, mom. And to my sister, thanks for always giving me a good laugh when I needed it the most. Don't worry, I won't tell mom and dad any of your secrets.
I could go on for pages thanking everyone that has played a part in my life and Cav Daily experience in the past years, but I'm sure that most people have either stopped reading or just skipped right to the end anyway, so I'll wrap it up.
The Cavalier Daily has been a major part of my life. I have learned more working at the paper then I have in any of my classes and had experiences that will stay with me forever. I have met many amazing people and made friends that I hope will stay with me for a long time to come. While I feel ready to move on, I do not regret any of the long hours or late nights I spent in the basement of Newcomb Hall. It was a pleasure serving you
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