By Michael Walsh
While the diploma I receive later this month will say that I graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a degree in journalism, it might as well credit that education to The Recorder instead.
Because as valuable as my time spent learning inside the classroom at CCSU has been, none of it can compare to what this newspaper has meant to me and the invaluable experience it has provided.
I’ve learned more about journalism inside the four walls of our small office than I could have ever imagined I would when I started as a communication major looking to write lengthy film reviews and nothing else.
Hell, working a few particular stories this past year has taught me more about journalism than any textbook or class assignment could dream of doing. College media is an important step and experience for any journalism major and I do wish more would realize how necessary it is if you want to make a good career out of news.
But more importantly, while there are some that could benefit from joining the student newspaper and lend a helping hand, there are a number of motivated and hardworking students already inside The Recorder’s office that has made my time as editor-in-chief as amazing and enjoyable as I could have dreamed it would be when I was elected to the position last May.
The efforts of a strong group of editors and a collection of earnest and passionate staff writers who found their own way to the office made this particular past semester one to remember. Each and every issue of The Recorder was full of relevant campus and community news of all kinds that I found to be unprecedented in my time at the newspaper.
Because of this staff’s strength, comradery and desire to succeed, I fully believe that the amazing product that was put out each and every week this past semester will continue for some time. There’s a more than capable group of students ready to lead this newspaper after I leave and I couldn’t be more confident and comfortable in how they’ll react to situations and conflicts that most college students don’t have to dream of worrying about.
The effort of this staff is something I hope the CCSU campus begins to recognize. It’s not easy to put out a quality weekly newspaper while managing other jobs, family, homework and in some cases, a social life. The aim for professionalism that this staff has come to embrace over just the past few weeks has been fascinating to see and wonderful to be a part of. I hope the university’s appreciation for the work these students do grows on a yearly basis.
The Recorder can be a great tool to the students of this university. Use it as a forum to get your voice heard. The newspaper isn’t limited to a select few; it’s a tool for the entire student body and it embraces involvement from all. If something is bothering you, ask the staff to investigate it. If you have something to say, write a letter to the editor or submit an opinion piece. It’s easier to get your voice heard than you might think and on the rest of the staff’s behalf I invite you to join and get involved.
Our advisor, Dr. Vivian Martin, who also doubles as a professor of journalism and triples as chair of the department, has been a strong influence on my time as editor-in-chief and I can’t finish this piece without mentioning and thanking her for the amount of time and effort she puts into her job. I would sometimes be lost without her keen words of advice and I owe a lot to her in my growth as a writer and editor.
This farewell column also wouldn’t be complete without thanking key members of the past, such as former editor-in-chief Melissa Traynor, former managing editor Edward Gaug and former sports editor Chris Boulay, who helped welcome me to the newspaper and opened me up as both a person and as a journalist. I would not be able to handle the heavy responsibility I put on my back this past September if it weren’t for the guidance, instruction and encouragement they provided me along the way.
I do sincerely wish the current staff of The Recorder the best of luck in continuing what I consider to be a recent surge of success. A majority of the key components that have been contributing to that success will be returning to the newspaper next semester in an effort to see The Recorder grow into an even stronger product.
Nicholas Proch, the current managing editor, has been elected as next semester’s editor-in-chief and will serve this newspaper well. He has quickly transitioned into a leader for both the veteran and newer members of this staff and I have no doubt about his ability going into next fall. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s certainly an amount he can handle. He’ll have the same great people at his side that made my time as editor-in-chief much less difficult than it could have been.
The Recorder was my life and focus for three years. As I move on and try to turn this journalism thing into a career, I know that I’m going to absolutely miss the long Monday production nights and the people that made those marathon sessions enjoyable a whole heck of a lot.