After just nine weeks in my role as editor-in-chief, I have to say goodbye — well, goodbye for now. Certainly not goodbye forever.
Due to the absolute nightmare of scheduling anything at Lawrence University (in addition to the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic), I had to push my study abroad experience back until my senior year. Stepping away from the paper while still in the role of editor-in-chief was never something I planned, and I hate that it’s something I have to do.
But I can do it because I have the utmost confidence in this staff at every level of the paper.
I’m (mostly) handing the editor reins off to the highly capable Taylor Hughes, and I have no doubt she will successfully hold down the fort while I’m away. She’s spent this term learning the ropes, asking questions and contributing significantly to editorial decisions. Plus, she’s already managing all the logistical stuff that I don’t want to do! For any questions about payroll, Slack or applications, I have fully deferred to her. Starting at the end of this term, I’ll be doing a lot more deferring.
But no matter how lovely Taylor is, it’s not just her. It’s really our entire newspaper staff.
To my lovely partners on the executive team, Miri and Amber, it has been such a pleasure to get to know you this term. We could not do what we do without your input and contributions.
To the editorial board staff, what can I even say? You are the glue that keeps this paper together. Truly, without each one of you doing what you do every single week, we would not be able to publish. I know how hard your work can be (I mean, I did do the job for three years), and I know you do an astonishing amount of incredible work without any credit. Now I am giving you that credit. You are absolutely vital to the work that The Lawrentian does, and I have watched the paper improve due to each and every one of you. None of you need me in order to continue to be successful. You are ready to tackle Fall Term, and I have so much appreciation for and confidence in each of you.
To all the wonderful writers, photographers, and artists who contribute your talent to our paper every week, I hope you know how valued you are. Even if I haven’t worked with you directly, I have loved reading your work, admiring your art and talking to your section editors about how incredible you are! You are brave enough to put your name out there and passionate enough to do the legwork to keep this campus in-the-know and entertained. It’s no small feat, and we are here to help you nurture your talent and support you in whatever way we can. I truly cannot wait to see what you do next year.
To the former editors of our beloved newspaper, don’t think I’ve forgotten you. You have laid the groundwork for everything that has happened and will continue to happen under my tenure, and your work allowed us to hit the ground running. Thank you so much for the time you spent, and I hope you’re thriving in your retirement.
And finally, to our readers, all I want to say is thank you. You are the people we do this for, and your feedback is so critical to what we do. Sometimes we get it wrong, and you’re the ones who hold us accountable so that we can hold everyone else accountable. You elevate our stories, share your ideas and enable us to continue doing the ever-important work of journalism. I hope you always remember that you’re a key part of making this system work, just as much as the reporters in the newsroom.
All that said, I do want to end with one key caveat: I’m always just an email away (or a text, or a call, or a Slack message, or an Instagram DM — this is the 21st century, after all). Whether it’s a crisis in the newsroom or just a check-in, I’d love to hear from anyone and everyone while I’m away.
January can’t come soon enough, but until then, I’ll miss you.