I 'M STILL getting over the shock of seeing my name in print for the first time. Whereas most of my colleagues have written dozens of articles in their days, I have instead resigned myself to doing much of the behind-the scenes work, the work that few think or about, but which must get done for the paper to be completed each and every night.
Working on a newspaper has been anything but a new experience for me. In high school I wrote sports for my school's newspaper and did production on both the paper and yearbook. My time commitment was heavy then (or so I really believed), but it was one of the best experiences of my life. When I arrived at U.Va. I knew that I wanted to work on the newspaper, but I also thought that a minimal time commitment would be the ideal, as there were other things I was interested in doing as well. So I proceeded to the sports desk the first time I came down, where I was told that by a crazy sports editor named Moorehouse I would be doing sproundup (sports in brief) for the first month or two before actually being given the chance to write a story.
I quickly left the paper that day, unsure if sports writing was really the best path for me. Writing a 50-line sports-in-brief article once a week was certainly not the field that I could contribute most to the newspaper, and also, it didn't seem like too much fun. So the start of my newspaper career did not actually begin on my first visit down to the basement, but my second, when I visited the production department and found three energetic editors willing to take me in immediately and show me the ropes. In no time, I became part of the Cavalier Daily family and community, and for the past 2 _ years, I have been a thriving member who is proud to call the paper my home.
Although the people at the newspaper, of which I will name a few later on, is the main reason that I joined and descended into the Newcomb Hall Basement with a smile upon my face each day, it is certainly not the only reason. During my first shift as a production assistant (8:30-midnight on a Sunday night), I saw a black and white newspaper that still pasted up its stories onto flats that would then have to be rolled and driven to the printing press. I saw a production staff that used PCs and Adobe Pagemaker and, rather than drawing its only layouts, just put those that the literary editors gave to them. Something was severely wrong with how this newspaper was running from the production standpoint, and for my entire stay here at the paper, I have worked to bring the production side of the paper up to the high level that our literary departments have maintained. Now, as I leave the Managing Board, I am proud to say that the production departments draws all the layouts itself and uses Adobe Indesign (which for those unfamiliar with desktop publishing software is leaps and bounds above Pagemaker) and Apple G4s on which to draw such layouts. We have a color newspaper, one of the best-designed collegiates in the nation, day in and day out, that is sent to Culpeper digitally as opposed to on flats.
Although the majority of my tenure in the basement has been spent improving the visual quality of the paper, I am also a true believer in the role of newspapers in our society, especially a small community such as this University. I believe the greatest role of a newspaper today is to provide information to the public on a wide range of topics, from student council, to sports, to medicine. However, the information that we present should certainly not be the end, the point where you stop thinking and caring about an issue. Rather, it should only be the beginning. It doesn't matter what you care about, what you spend your days at college and in life working for. But it does matter that you care about something. If you don't care about something, you're a loser. Here at the paper I have tried to make articles and content appealing in order to bring in readers and spark interest in a plethora of issues.
As I noted before, the Cavalier Daily has been my home for the past 2 years. And with every home naturally comes its share of family members, of which I am completely indebted for making this experience the best of my life.
Sonia, Janelle, Phil and Brian: You guys welcomed me to the CD family 3 years ago and made me feel like my contributions in the back room were important and appreciated. Without you, I might never have decided to come that third time when I wasn't sure the paper was where I wanted to spend my time.
Michael, Nick, Erin S. and Portman: Working as a member of the 111th Junior Board was an unforgettable experience and I can't thank you enough for pushing me to become an editor and giving me the freedom to push the paper to the next level.
Margaret, Jim, Doug, D-Lo and Shapiro: Every day I came down as production editor was an adventure and experience unto itself, and your warm hearts, affable nature, and unique personalities made me enjoy coming to the basement. I couldn't have worked with a better junior board.
The 112th Junior Board, especially Dave, Kevin, Peter, Brady, Justice, Chu and David: I couldn't be more lucky to have a group of editors that cared as much about the newspaper as you did. Thanks for putting up with my ridiculously high expectations and hands-on approach, even when I had no clue what I was doing.
Jack and Karen at Culpeper: Thanks for all your work this summer transitioning us from flats to electronic submission. Your kind heart, patience and warm personality, Karen, made those late nights not only bearable, but fun. And you also saved our butts numerous times from glaring mistakes.
John Clark: You will always be my "Champ," and me, your "Young tindle." Your dedication to this newspaper, to the principles of journalism, and to the University community are unmatched by anyone. You have truly been a great leader for this paper, a trend-setter in regards to fashion, and a great friend above all.
Jennifer Schaum: Certainly, MB meetings would not have been the same without you, although I probably would have emerged from them in one piece. There isn't anyone I would have rather had writing the opinion of our Board than you. Your sense of humor, work ethic, and kind heart are undoubtedly the total package.
Sam Le: My officemate and friend, we have survived together through many late nights and mornings as well. You always knew what to say to me when something was wrong or I was unsure of myself, and I hope I was able to give back at least a portion of that to you. Hopefully in the upcoming months I will be able to fully take advantage of your bartending skills.
Jon Erdman: Despite living and working with you, I can't say I saw a whole lot of you this past year. But inevitably when I did, your fun and easy-going attitude put a smile on my face. I hope that in the upcoming semester, we can rekindle our NY Metropolitan area roots and show Cresap what they've been missing.
E-Pooch, Katie, and Rachel: I can truly say that my days on the MB would not have been as much fun if all three of you hadn't been down there, to fill the newsroom with your fun-loving personalities and dedication to the paper.
Eric: Honestly, this paper couldn't have accomplished half of what it did this past year without you. From making sure all the computers were working so I didn't have to, to spending the summer working out the kinks on our electronic submission process to Culpeper, your contributions to the paper will never be forgotten. Plus, you are the only one to remember prod back in the day.
Sean: Eh! Eh! Eh! I still remember our meetings in the Tuttle Coffee House to discuss the immense plans to take over the paper. Now we don't even have to go downstairs anymore. Your devotion to me and to the paper, although not always stated, is immeasurable and we are both substantially better because of what you have given.
Reece: When there was something to be done, you were the one that I went to if it was important. And when there wasn't, I still made up things just so I would have the chance to see you down in the office. You were quite successful in putting up with my antics for a year, and I thank you for your patience, hard work, and, of course, the wonderful attitude you brought to work each day.
Christa: Words cannot describe how amazing it has been to work with you for the past year-plus. Although your efforts at the paper have been colossal, it pales in comparison to what you have given to me and the rest of the staff. You are a gem who truly encompasses all that is good in life.
The 113th MB: As good a job I think the paper has done in the past few years, I know that you will just blow us out of the water. And, more importantly, I know you will make sure that everyone has fun in the process.
Sharon: Just as the CD has been my second home for the past years, you have naturally been my mother, and a mother to the entire staff. Thank you for listening to me, talking to me, and then proceeding to listen some more. The Cavalier Daily is blessed to have you.
Chu: Words cannot describe how important you have been for me this past year. When I needed someone to talk to, or a break from the paper, you were always there to pick me up with a kind word and a warm heart. Whether it was an elegant dinner (or Thai 99), a study session at Alderman, or just watching a video on your couch, there is nobody I would have rather spent my limited free time with. I hope that I am always as happy as I have been with you the past year.
Mom & Dad: Although on paper it doesn't appear worth it to spend thousands of dollars for your child to go to a premiere University just so he can spend 70 or 80 hours a week working in a basement for free, I promise you that it was well worth it. Even though my health and grades naturally slipped, I can not thank you enough for loving and supporting my decision and sticking by me, even when my decisions seemed all but rational. I love you both.
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