Asst. News Copy Editor | Fall 2015; Copy Chief | Spring 2016

Management has me labeled as “misfit,” but truth be told I don’t think I fit better anywhere else. It was some late nights, some early mornings, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m not graduating so I will not get sad as I will still be around, but I will greatly miss 744 Ostrom Ave.

Mara: I would not have wanted to spend my year at The D.O. under anyone else’s leadership. Always so positive, always so nice, always dressed so well. You have introduced me to prosciutto bread sticks and my life is forever changed.

Justin: Thank you for hiring me in your staff last spring, even as I was an ocean away. Watching you has made me a better journalist. I have learned so much from you and I thank you for that. I know you are going to do an amazing job leading this paper. The entire university knows you will do an amazing job. Word artists. Demand excellence. This is Jake.

My copy staff: Copy is the best section. That is all.

But also, I tried to build a section this semester, and I hope I succeeded. Thank you for putting up with me and my weekly emails, my random PSAs and countless cheat sheets. May they have made your lives easier. My favorite thing in the world was seeing all of your bylines as they would come to me every night. Keep doing great work. Keep being amazing journalists. This section would not be complete without every single one of you.

Alexa Torrens: Never stop telling the world how great I am. I mean it. And I’ll keep doing the same. Just for a day, I’d love to have your confidence. Your laugh is contagious and you have made the news room so much fun. Especially when you and Burke are bickering. I will miss the bickering. Have a great time developing all those new writers. P.S. 44 now haunts me.

Sara Swann: A saint and an angel. And a name that is not complete unless both the first and last name are said. I much appreciate the daily offer of dining hall food. Your love and passion is everything, and I will miss it dearly. Also, cat videos will forever remind me of you. Kill it as news editor, I know you will.

Rachel Sandler: Pop culture queen, I bow down to you. You are also the queen of writing stories in class. Yeah, I saw you. And you’re the queen of primary coverages. The queen of all queens. I had so much fun this semester mumbling to each other the annoyances of class. The D.O. parties would not be the same without you. Love ya girl!

Sports: I don’t think I have killed more ants than I did in this room, but it’s fine. I got to sit in the Eli Saslow chair, so how can I really complain. You guys were always so much fun to hang out with, thank you for letting me into your little club.

Pulp: Your room was freezing all the time, but you are also right next to the pup food. Win some, lose some, I guess. Thank you Rachel for singing my name as I entered the room, I loved spending nights with you guys. Keep on jamming out to classic songs that you forgot existed but still know all the words to.

Visuals: I know, I know: “there are some stories on that couch,” but as someone who is a pro at taking blurry pictures and someone who manages to mess up everything on InDesign without even touching it, I appreciate what you do. Thank you for letting this non-visual individual sit in your room once a week. P.S. Chloe is the ruler of Spotify playlists.

To the entire staff: As someone who read every story The D.O. produced, I am proud to be on this semester’s masthead, and to be associated with the great work this paper has produced. Thank you for making my college years that much better. Thank you for making my life that much better. I will be forever indebted to all of you for all the memories you let me be apart of. I will miss walking through the red door four nights a week. Thank you for having me.

Published on May 3, 2016 at 4:21 am

Contact Ali: Ali Linan