Yesterday, I was elected to be The Daily Evergeen's editor-in-chief for fall 2008. The experience was surprising. I became more nervous than I thought I would be and I didn't feel at all like I thought I would when I heard I had won.
I thought long and hard about the decision to run. The paper has become my life. As I noted in my presentation, this past year I've spent more time in the newsroom than out of it. I ran for editor-in-chief because I believed it was the best thing I could do for the paper I care about so much.
More experience would always be nice, but I know myself well enough not to do something I'm not ready for. Reactions were not what I expected, but at the end of the day I'm looking forward to next fall.
I know I can do it, and not just because I have to. I wouldn't have run otherwise. I'm glad to be editor-in-chief. I've had great examples to learn from and I hope to be as successful as the editors before me.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Farewell Diamond
My father called this morning, when he knew I would still be sleeping, to tell me my cat died last night. I was relieved that she wasn't attacked or sick, but simply died in her sleep. She was a very old cat. I remember holding her when she was kitten and I was about 3. That made her 16 when she finally went to sleep and never woke up. She was a barn cat and an excellent mouser. I named her Diamond, because the way she had different colors of brown in her coat reminded me a scene from the Rescuers when a flashlight hits a diamond. It will be strange to feed the animals without her trailing after me.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
On catching my attention
As News editor I get 20 to 50 e-mails a day, depending on the day of the week. I am annoyed by most of them and delete at least half. Others I flag to return to at a later time and the handful of useful ones I print and add to my clipboard.
Today I got a cute little card in my real mailbox about the College of Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition. "I guess I'll send a reporter to this," I said to Lisa. She in turn pointed out how this is a perfect example of contradictions in my character.
"If you had been e-mailed the same information, you would have deleted it," she said. "But because they sent an actual invitation, you're going to send a reporter."
This is true. Had it been an e-mail, I would have ignored it and the student body would never hear about the poster competition. But because the College of Sciences put in the extra effort to make me feel like they really wanted the Evergreen to be there, I'm more willing to comply with their request.
I should note that telling me in an e-mail that a story is VERY NEWSWORTHY does not count as putting in extra effort to catch my attention. When I receive 50 e-mails a day, if you want coverage your event better actually be newsworthy or you should do something to make me like you better. Cute cards are apparently effective, though nothing can make up for a story that has no relevance to our readers.
Today I got a cute little card in my real mailbox about the College of Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition. "I guess I'll send a reporter to this," I said to Lisa. She in turn pointed out how this is a perfect example of contradictions in my character.
"If you had been e-mailed the same information, you would have deleted it," she said. "But because they sent an actual invitation, you're going to send a reporter."
This is true. Had it been an e-mail, I would have ignored it and the student body would never hear about the poster competition. But because the College of Sciences put in the extra effort to make me feel like they really wanted the Evergreen to be there, I'm more willing to comply with their request.
I should note that telling me in an e-mail that a story is VERY NEWSWORTHY does not count as putting in extra effort to catch my attention. When I receive 50 e-mails a day, if you want coverage your event better actually be newsworthy or you should do something to make me like you better. Cute cards are apparently effective, though nothing can make up for a story that has no relevance to our readers.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Snow in March
That's right. It's snowing.
I will post updates from spring break and my first week back after I get the bluetooth set up on my phone. The posts won't be complete without the photos I have stored there.
However, I had to share that it is snowing outside. It was nice enough this morning that Victor didn't wear a coat when he came to campus, but then, coming back with dinner from the newly opened dining center, we got snowflakes in our sandwiches.
Mother Nature has issues.
I will post updates from spring break and my first week back after I get the bluetooth set up on my phone. The posts won't be complete without the photos I have stored there.
However, I had to share that it is snowing outside. It was nice enough this morning that Victor didn't wear a coat when he came to campus, but then, coming back with dinner from the newly opened dining center, we got snowflakes in our sandwiches.
Mother Nature has issues.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Song of the Day
"Voodoo Child" by Jimi Hendrix. This isn't the best version of the song, but I love watching him play.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Song of the Day
"Revolution" by the Beatles. Last night I watched Across the Universe for the first time. Now the songs are stuck in my head and I have a new appreciation for the music of the Beatles. I liked a few of their songs before and now like a couple more. I think that the actors in the movie did a better job with several of the songs. Aside from a couple of over the top phychedelic moments I recommend it.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Chance of a lifetime
Many of the players on the WSU basketball team are tall. One is particularly so. I have long desired to stand next to him to see just how tall he is. Lisa, her brother, and I went to watch basketball practice today. The last home game of the season is on Saturday and then the seniors will graduate. I mistakenly thought the very tall player was graduating, and the thought that I would never have the opportunity to ask again, gave me to courage to request a picture with him. Thankfully, Lisa takes her camera everywhere with her.
It made my day and I was so happy to get what I've wanted for some time. I couldn't stop smiling I was so pleased. I also got to shake hands with Tony Bennet.
Once I returned to the newsroom, I realized he is only a junior and not graduating. He did not correct me though, which was kind of him.
It made my day and I was so happy to get what I've wanted for some time. I couldn't stop smiling I was so pleased. I also got to shake hands with Tony Bennet.
Once I returned to the newsroom, I realized he is only a junior and not graduating. He did not correct me though, which was kind of him.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
WSU Elections
We made it through ASWSU elections last night. It didn't feel as stressful as I remember last year being, but perhaps that was because I was on the other side of things. It may also have been because I was not as enraged by the results.
I know exactly how Jimmy felt as he sat at the computer frantically flipping through his notes. The ASWSU reporter, Alex, was surprising calm. Rikki and I both covered elections night last year. One year later, we're both in editor positions. It seems like a fast transition and it makes me nervous to think where I'll be another year from now.
I made it back to my room at around 11:20 p.m. and I discovered that the Elections Board did not call senators who won. A write-in candidate was stressing out in my suite and thought he'd have to wait until tomorrow to find out the results. I told him that he had won and said I was surprised no one had called him. "How were they supposed to get my number?" he asked.
I thought it was funny that people unfamiliar with tracking down contact information for individuals don't realize how usually, it's pretty easy.
I know exactly how Jimmy felt as he sat at the computer frantically flipping through his notes. The ASWSU reporter, Alex, was surprising calm. Rikki and I both covered elections night last year. One year later, we're both in editor positions. It seems like a fast transition and it makes me nervous to think where I'll be another year from now.
I made it back to my room at around 11:20 p.m. and I discovered that the Elections Board did not call senators who won. A write-in candidate was stressing out in my suite and thought he'd have to wait until tomorrow to find out the results. I told him that he had won and said I was surprised no one had called him. "How were they supposed to get my number?" he asked.
I thought it was funny that people unfamiliar with tracking down contact information for individuals don't realize how usually, it's pretty easy.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Song of the Day
"Rock You Like A Hurricane" by Scorpions. NASCAR has started again and with it (like baseball season) comes great commercials. I give you one of the best ones so far. Starring Kasey Kahne, one of my favorite drivers.
"I think we're satisfied." Genius.
"I think we're satisfied." Genius.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Journalism and College
Yesterday, I did something I haven't really be able to do in a while. I wrote an update to the fraternity in trouble story the Evergreen broke on Thursday.
In the middle of my day of reporting, making phone calls and waiting for people to return them, I had to go to COM 295 (the news writing class), where I was supposed to learn to do exactly what I was already doing. It was speech writing day, so I had to listen to a speaker for 30 minutes. All I could think about was how my time could be used much more beneficially elsewhere. I had my article for the class finished before the speaker was done talking. I waited for him to finish before I turned it in, but the prof still gave me a very skeptical look for being done so quickly. At the time, I didn't care. I had more important things to care about.
This is part of the difficulty of being a student journalist. We try to do everything any other newspaper would do, but we have to fit classes in each day also.
In the evening, I moderated The Daily Evergreen ASWSU Presidential Debate. Brian was the timer. Afterward, I had another rare experience. Someone interviewed me for his broadcast class. I didn't want to, but in the end, decided to help him out. It was weird to be on the other end of the questions.
In the middle of my day of reporting, making phone calls and waiting for people to return them, I had to go to COM 295 (the news writing class), where I was supposed to learn to do exactly what I was already doing. It was speech writing day, so I had to listen to a speaker for 30 minutes. All I could think about was how my time could be used much more beneficially elsewhere. I had my article for the class finished before the speaker was done talking. I waited for him to finish before I turned it in, but the prof still gave me a very skeptical look for being done so quickly. At the time, I didn't care. I had more important things to care about.
This is part of the difficulty of being a student journalist. We try to do everything any other newspaper would do, but we have to fit classes in each day also.
In the evening, I moderated The Daily Evergreen ASWSU Presidential Debate. Brian was the timer. Afterward, I had another rare experience. Someone interviewed me for his broadcast class. I didn't want to, but in the end, decided to help him out. It was weird to be on the other end of the questions.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Song of the Day
"Everybody" by the Backstreet Boys. Classic.
Why you ask? Because I can and because it's SWEET! This is my childhood. Gotta love those mad choreographed dance scenes!
Why you ask? Because I can and because it's SWEET! This is my childhood. Gotta love those mad choreographed dance scenes!
Cereal diet continued
I had my breakfast dry this morning because I was running late. I tried it first yesterday morning. It didn't make the cereal taste more appetizing, but it did force me to eat the cereal more slowly.
Today's problem was that I tried to eat during my first class. I ended up giving up because I wasn't sure how loud my crunching was and I didn't want everyone listening to me eat. I know from experience how obnoxious that can be.
So far the diet has not really been difficult. Yes I'm hungry, but as I've mentioned, I can always eat fruit. The diet is really just more annoying. I don't hate eating a lot of cereal, I would just prefer other food.
I also feel no lighter.
Today's problem was that I tried to eat during my first class. I ended up giving up because I wasn't sure how loud my crunching was and I didn't want everyone listening to me eat. I know from experience how obnoxious that can be.
So far the diet has not really been difficult. Yes I'm hungry, but as I've mentioned, I can always eat fruit. The diet is really just more annoying. I don't hate eating a lot of cereal, I would just prefer other food.
I also feel no lighter.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Special K Day Three
Written at around 3 p.m. so tenses are odd.
I had my boring Original Special K breakfast. It doesn't taste good but it doesn't taste bad so it's not a problem to eat. I also still try to race the effects of the milk so I eat it rather quickly.
Due to classes and a trip to the clerk's office in Colfax, I don't get to eat anything again until 2 p.m. Cereal is not meant to tide you over that long. I was quite hungry and though the second meal of cereal helped somewhat, I don't expect its effects to be long lasting.
I still get to have a snack today so I imagine that will help get me to dinner.
Later
I made it to dinner without a snack, but because I was busy not because I wasn't hungry.
I had my boring Original Special K breakfast. It doesn't taste good but it doesn't taste bad so it's not a problem to eat. I also still try to race the effects of the milk so I eat it rather quickly.
Due to classes and a trip to the clerk's office in Colfax, I don't get to eat anything again until 2 p.m. Cereal is not meant to tide you over that long. I was quite hungry and though the second meal of cereal helped somewhat, I don't expect its effects to be long lasting.
I still get to have a snack today so I imagine that will help get me to dinner.
Later
I made it to dinner without a snack, but because I was busy not because I wasn't hungry.
Special K Day Two
Original Special K is still not very tasty, but not too bad. I had an apple before lunch so I wasn't hungry during the morning. I forgot to bring milk to the office, so I had my second meal of cereal dry.
At 2:30 I was very hungry so I had my first snack of the day. Special K cereal snack bars do nothing to satisfy hunger.
I watched the clock until dinner time.
The lack of variety in the diet isn't that bad because I get to have as much fruit as I want. I've been eating apples and oranges. Unfortunately, I think I will run out in the next couple days and then I will just be hungry.
At 2:30 I was very hungry so I had my first snack of the day. Special K cereal snack bars do nothing to satisfy hunger.
I watched the clock until dinner time.
The lack of variety in the diet isn't that bad because I get to have as much fruit as I want. I've been eating apples and oranges. Unfortunately, I think I will run out in the next couple days and then I will just be hungry.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Getting Eachother
Have you ever thought about why you're good friends with someone? I've often wondered that about my being good friends with Christina and with my mother. They are my best friends, but why? The answer is simple. They get me and I get them. I rarely need to explain myself to either and vice versa.
It's not that we are similar, which my mother and I happen to be to a weird extent, but that we are different. I like to think that Christina and I complement each other. We balance our two personalities by overlapping them slightly. Someone once said that we "make at least 1.5 eccentric personalities." It's so true. I think all close friends are like that. We are each enough of our own person to be unique but when we come together it's like another mini-personality if you will.
I hope that made a little sense.
It's not that we are similar, which my mother and I happen to be to a weird extent, but that we are different. I like to think that Christina and I complement each other. We balance our two personalities by overlapping them slightly. Someone once said that we "make at least 1.5 eccentric personalities." It's so true. I think all close friends are like that. We are each enough of our own person to be unique but when we come together it's like another mini-personality if you will.
I hope that made a little sense.
Trains
At OSU last year there were train tracks about 300 yards from my dorm. The train was loud. It came by frequently (several times a day) and blew it's horn the whole way through campus. Sometimes it would come at 6:30 AM sometimes 11:30 PM, those were rare times but did happen. At first the train was a nuisance, but then it grew on me. I liked waking up to it in the morning and falling asleep to it at night. I liked hearing it while I was watching a football game or studying outside. It was a comforting constant throughout my day.
There is also a train here. It is not so frequent. On my birthday it came through town. It was about 1:00 and we (my friends and I) had just laid down to sleep. I smiled as I laid there remembering the train from the previous year. The familiar sound lulled me to sleep and filled me with nostalgia.
The next morning at breakfast my friend asked if we had heard the train. I told her with a smile that I had. My other friend responded angrily and said that she as too. I was confused. I asked them why they were angry and they said because it had gone by three times in the night and had kept them awake. When I explained that I liked the sound and how it helped me fall asleep they didn't understand. I found it interesting that something that was such an annoyance to them was like a birthday present to me.
There is also a train here. It is not so frequent. On my birthday it came through town. It was about 1:00 and we (my friends and I) had just laid down to sleep. I smiled as I laid there remembering the train from the previous year. The familiar sound lulled me to sleep and filled me with nostalgia.
The next morning at breakfast my friend asked if we had heard the train. I told her with a smile that I had. My other friend responded angrily and said that she as too. I was confused. I asked them why they were angry and they said because it had gone by three times in the night and had kept them awake. When I explained that I liked the sound and how it helped me fall asleep they didn't understand. I found it interesting that something that was such an annoyance to them was like a birthday present to me.
Rejection
I am rejecting winter. I'm sick of it and I'm pretending it doesn't exist anymore. When I told my father this he said "let me know how that works out for ya." Thus far, it's working. Thus far, it hasn't rained. Thus far, I've only been uncomfortably cold twice.
How am I rejecting winter? I'm cutting down my clothing layers from three to two and every morning I think about wearing flip flops. I've also started to wear t-shirts that are visible to others. I'm betting it rains tomorrow.
How am I rejecting winter? I'm cutting down my clothing layers from three to two and every morning I think about wearing flip flops. I've also started to wear t-shirts that are visible to others. I'm betting it rains tomorrow.
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