With all the craziness last week, I did not have a chance to write a traditional goodbye column for my last week as editor-in-chief (EIC). As The Oswegonian has been a major part of my life for three years, a proper send off is needed.
I joined the staff in the fall of 2020 as a copy editor. I interviewed for the job with Ben Grieco, who two years later would be my boss at The Palladium Times for my internship. I got the job and was the sole copy editor for that year.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions on campus, I did not set foot in the office until March 2021. There I spent my first few long nights copy editing; my goal was to leave for my dorm by midnight most nights. We were operating on a bi-weekly schedule, so it was an easier transition into working at the ‘Gonian and it was that year when I fell in love with copy editing.
As the only copy editor on staff, it seemed fitting that I would move up to chief copy editor for the 2021-22 academic year. In that role, I met Abi and Spencer for the first time and we became an unstoppable copy editing team and very close friends. There was never a dull moment in the office; we were all working on a weekly publishing schedule for the first time and running around like crazy, though somehow the infamous misspelled “Laker Reveiw” cover still slipped by, it still hangs in the office as a reminder of our worst copy editing mishap to date.
That year had its own fair share of late nights, but I do not think any of us really noticed because of the fun we were having. At least I did not notice, but I cannot speak for Abi and Spencer, who clocked out of the office well past 1 a.m. more than once.
As one of the longest-running staff members, it was known by everyone that I would be running for editor-in-c
hief and it was most likely that I would be running unopposed. Along the way to elections, I convinced Abi and Spencer to stick around and run the paper with me instead of graduating early. After the horror stories and watching two EIC’s stress out week after week, I knew I needed a managing editor and chief copy editor I could rely on and work well with and I got them.
And that brings us to where I am now, in my last week of being EIC. I do not have time to thank and congratulate every person on staff, though they all deserve their own personal thank you card. Without them, I would not have been able to do half of what I did, including the investigation that concluded last week.
From the misspelled pens to new computers to writing workshops to budget mishaps to open houses, my time at the Gonian was memorable to say the least. I will miss everyone next year but I know they will do just fine without me, they already run things without me.
I am passing the EIC torch to Ben Diamond, the current sports editor. It seems fitting that I started with my ‘Gonian career working under two former ‘sports guys’ who became the EIC and now I am passing it back. I have complete faith in next year’s staff and I know they will do an amazing job. Good luck everyone!
Photo by: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels
