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Senior members of The Norwich Guidon staff make their farewell remarks From the desk of the Managing Editor Amanda Tracy
When I signed my contract to be Managing Editor of The Norwich Guidon two years ago, I was able to sort out a few expectations that I thought were guarantees:
I know now that I had not one clue of what I should have been preparing myself for. I've had heated and tense interviews with students, administrators, faculty, and staff. I've lost countless hours of sleep over how to best bring issues of concern to light to the university community. I've hotly debated the merits of our coverage with, well, just about anybody. I've snapped at a number of unruly reporters, destroying their stories and telling them to start over. My family, friends, and those supporting me have become accustomed to avoiding me during the days leading up to the afternoon we "put the paper to bed." Their contribution to my sanity at times when there's no correct answer is immeasurable. The unfortunate part about being Managing Editor of a campus newspaper is that you are stuck with the stories that nobody else wants to touch…with a ten-foot pole. You have to do those stories and still look your sources, which are often friends, and the student body in the face afterward. This is not to mention looking yourself in the mirror at night. Through all of these experiences, and the extreme pressure of covering difficult topics on campus, what I didn't expect was that my love for Norwich transcended even my own doubt about whether or not this is still a good place to be. There have often been times, after the paper is strewn on the mailroom floor and my story is finished, that I've had to reflect on what I've learned. When those discoveries are unpleasant, I find myself trying to encourage someone else within a day or two. --Maybe even to force myself to believe in Norwich, again. I think everyone graduating in on May 5 has had moments like this. We have all spent significant time wondering whether or not the difficulties we've faced are worth it. I'd be a liar if I said I had not. What makes me certain of how Norwich endures never ceases to amaze me. The realization sneaks up on me, when I least expect it, as I watch a fellow student do the right thing when they don't think anybody is watching. The moments are most encouraging when I watch a younger student follow the good example set by one of my classmates. Watching the Norwich values of courage, honesty, temperance, and wisdom at work each day have made my job and my time at Norwich an experience of a lifetime. Those are the moments when Norwich comes alive for me, and it happens when my reporter's tape recorder is rolling, too. Thank you, Norwich University, and all of The Norwich Guidon readers for an experience that I will never forget, and deeply miss after I cross the stage.  Through the camera lens with Dave Neely, Norwich Guidon Photo Editor, four-year staff veteran
I first saw Norwich University through the lens of a Pentax 35 mm camera four years ago. I was to see the school not only from the perspective as a cadet, but as a photojournalist. Working for The Norwich Guidon has given me opportunities that few at Norwich have been offered. Not all of them have been the greatest experiences. Life as a rook and a staff photographer definitely turned out to be challenging. That year, the top cadets were fired because of their involvement in a secret society. For one of my first assignments, I was to get a photograph of the new Regimental Commander and Executive Officer. As a rook, calling the two top ranking cadets to schedule an appointment to get them together for a photo was a little nerve wracking. My time as a photographer for The Norwich Guidon has had a lot of perks. It has helped me get into events like the Winter X-Games, and Vice President Dick Cheney's speech in Burlington. Every year, The Norwich Guidon staff changes around, sometimes only one or two people, and sometimes almost everyone. Throughout my four years on staff, one person only has been here longer than me (not even Amanda). He is someone that does not get the recognition that he deserves. He works very hard to help us publish The Norwich Guidon. I am thankful that, as a freshman, Professor Ken Bush let me work for him and the Guidon; it has helped me stay active in one of my hobbies, make a little bit of money, and had fun while I did it. As I look back on my four years here at Norwich, and I think about some of the good times that I have had, working for The Norwich Guidon has been one of them.  Get the "scoop" with Lisa Dufresne, Norwich Guidon Entertainment Editor
I can't believe another year has come and gone already! It seems like just yesterday that I drove back to campus in the fall and thought about how I couldn't wait for my senior year to be over with. With less than two weeks to go, I certainly got my wish, - but it did go a little faster than I had hoped. As far as the year in entertainment went, we had lots of stars gathering together to raise money for the Sept. 11 funds. Then, people tried to shift their focus, and the public received more new music and movies. Celebrities having babies (Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw), new couples (Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake), couples breaking up (Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake), and all the rest of the typical Hollywood gossip flooded this year's entertainment page. At Norwich, we had some entertainment news, such as a couple of "Brunch with Bach" gatherings, the authors came for the William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium, Pegasus Players did a fantastic production of Henry V, some rumors of and cancellation of bands coming to campus (Nickelback, Verve Pipe, and Strangefolk), and other behind the scenes entertainment gatherings kept us pretty busy for the year. I'm going to miss Norwich and all my friends here, but I'm hoping it has given me enough of a base to land a great position in the upcoming weeks. I'm happy and thankful that I didn't graduate in December as I had once planned, because I would have missed the good times I've had. Good luck to everyone next year and don't forget to keep yourselves entertained! |
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| Copyright 2002 by the President and Trustees of Norwich University. | ||