Well, well, well. Has it been four years already? At the beginning of the four years that I’ve been proud enough to say that I write for The Xavierite I never suspected that one day I would be writing a farewell column as its Editor-in-Chief.
I also never thought that I’d be writing one of the last columns in the final print edition of the paper. It’s a sad thing. Believe me, I understand why the printed edition of The Xavierite is going to become a relic of the past. (Speaking of, hold onto this paper. It’ll be a Collector’s Edition one day.) For a university that is facing financial struggle, we’re just another expense.
Yet, I advise all to begin checking thexavierite.com for all the news in the future. This is where the eyes and ears of the student body will be found from here on out. As The Xavierite moves to a digital format, where all articles will be housed on thexavierite.com, I remain attached and defensive of the past and yet I trust in the future.
Zhana Johnson – the Editor-in-Chief elect – has the great challenge of finding a way of adjusting the structure of the organization to a new format. In a way I envy the fact that she gets to take on such a challenge and, in another way, I don’t envy her at all.
Zhana is one of the smartest, most respectful (and respected), dignified and kindest people I know. In short, she is the kind of person I want to be when I finally grow up (whenever that day may be). She will not only maintain the standard of reporting I tried to instill, but will improve it.
This I know to be true. Next year, The Xavierite – no matter its shape or form – will be in the best hands it may have ever been in. To my successor, enjoy your time at the top. It will be both an aggravating process and one you will come to love with all your heart and mind.
You have a great challenge ahead of you. Take it and make it your own. And who could forget that this new era will be guided by Peter Kreten? For my money Johnson and Kreten are as close as something can get to a sure thing.
While I leave on a note that is far less than ideal, my time spent with The Xavierite is time that I will never regret spending. I’m not a sentimental person. Life is lived forward. Yet, I imagine if I spend any time reflecting on my four years at SXU little of it will be spent thinking of time in the classrooms, diner or library.
Most of it will be a reflection, really, of my time at The Xavierite. The late nights laying out. The amount of cheap pizza consumed. Hearing juicy scoops from off the record sources. Ragging on staff members and getting ragged on in return.
Talking sports with John Romando, Mike Rankin and Kenneth Washington. Talking about the happenings about campus with Yasmeen Abdellatif and welcoming our newest News Editor Miryam. Talking movies with Zhana and debating the merits of Grease Live! with Elizabeth Granato. Having back-and-forth conversations with our Viewpoints section, Susy Macias and Jill Augustine and getting feedback from Copyeditors Sidney and Briana.
Then of course there is the time spent with Lauren Dwyer. For the last two years, Dwyer has been one of my closest confidants and an indispensable member of the staff if for no other reasons than she has challenged me to be the best Editor-in-Chief I could be.
She is a woman of immense talent, intelligence and one of the few people I’ve ever met who fights with every ounce of conviction in her body to see the best of all possible outcomes happen. It’s been my experience in life that few people will ever be completely honest with you; most have a fear of hurting your feelings or they just don’t care enough about the issues to say anything.
Lauren Dwyer is one of those select few people who has always kept it honest with me. She is one of the most integral friends I have. Seek people like her out, folks. They make you better at what you do.
That brings me to Peter Kreten. All those who are members of Student Media know that Kreten serves three major functions: he’s one third newspaper overseer, one third radio guru and one third life coach. If you have the drive and determination to succeed, Kreten will help you develop the talent.
The amount of traffic his office receives on a daily basis is enough to let any casual observer know that he is the best person to talk to about media, popular culture and general life council. To the outside world, he is mild-mannered Clark Kent, but to those of us who call the Student Media Center home he is Superman.
For these last two years as Editor-in-Chief of this paper, these are the people who have been closest to this project and have been the ones serving as my system of support and I hope that I have supported them as much as they have for me.
I’ve been very lucky to have people pushing me along the way, prodding me to do my best and teaching me some of the best lessons that I used to land this position and do it the best I could. I would like to acknowledge them here. Please know for each of them I could write a book of gratitude, but I’m running a little long and I hope a simple mention will suffice for now.
To the following, I say a warm and enthusiastic “Thank you”: Dr. Joel Sternberg, Dr. Renee Robinson, Dr. Brad Mello, Dr. Jacquelyn Arcy, Dr. Blake Paxton, Dr. Jim Walker, Jake Alleruzzo, Tony Bara, Tim Carroll, Damone Griffin, Dr. Gina Rossetti, Dr. Nelson Hathcock, the SXU Honors Program, Grant Vargas, Genevieve Buthod, Professor Janis Schumac, Mike Duffin, John Gonczy, Kevin Lindemann, Jo Pieczynski, and Mom & Dad.
The Crusade for Sanity has endured for four years and it doesn’t end. There’s a lot of crazy beyond these walls. I’m going out there to fight it. I hope you’ll join me. I refuse to believe that the national conversation will should ever veer to fart to one side, unless of course that one side happens to actually be right.
As always, thanks for reading.
Brian Laughran
Editor-in-Chief
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