It is still hard to comprehend that I have been a member of The Recorder’s staff since 2006. Time has rushed past, and now this is the last column I will have in the paper. Even typing it makes it feel surreal. This paper has been such a massive part of my life the past four years, and I don’t know how I would have got on without it.
I have gone from a pretty bad writer with a lot of ambition to nearly every position at the paper, to the Sports Editor position that I am writing from today. It’s pretty wild to think that the vast majority of my time in college has been stuck with a small group of like-minded, aspiring journalists putting out a print issue every week. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I started out as Assistant News Editor, then moved up to News Editor. That’s where Melissa Traynor, our wonderful editor started, under me. Can’t say that I’m not proud of her; she accomplished quite a lot in a shorter time period than me while she was here, and she should be applauded. I also was Managing Editor, Business Manager and Assistant Sports Editor.
My time at the paper has not been without bumpy roads. I was still getting a feel for the work when the controversy of 2007 occurred, something that is burned into my mind, as it was one of the most turbulent things I have experienced. Also, I had the honor of getting my picture in every major paper in the United States when the Associated Press took a photo of me at a Media Board meeting, soon after our paper printed the “Polydongs” comic. Can’t say it was my proudest moments, but to explain to the photographer that it wasn’t my idea wouldn’t have gotten me very far. Having experienced these times though, as stressful and frustrating as they were, I feel it was necessary to prepare me for the world of journalism that lies ahead for me.
In my years as a member of this paper, I hope that I inspired at least one person, or helped them to become a better writer. If I did this, then my work here is truly done.
I consider myself pretty spoiled when it comes to what I have been able to do while at the paper. I have gone to conferences in Washington D.C., New York City, San Diego and Austin. Even getting stranded in Chicago with no winter coat wasn’t terrible, either!
In addition to this, I have covered men’s basketball in the Northeast Conference tournament, an FCS bowl game in Indianapolis, as well as Division I soccer. Anyone who knows me best knows that me just being at a soccer match is my favorite way to pass the time, so every time doing that was an absolute joy.
I have also had the pleasure of traveling all over New England and the Mid Atlantic to cover games. Many of these were long road trips that took away a lot of weekends throughout college, but in hindsight, it was worth it.
I have interviewed Senator Joe Lieberman, Ned Lamont, former NFL head coach Jim Haslett, former NFL defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, as well as numerous former professionals and college athletes.
Of all of my interviews, I have to say the best interview I have ever done is with CCSU men’s soccer captain Robert Cavener. There is no other person that I have interviewed who is as personable and as he is. Cav, you made my life a lot easier over the past could years.
I would like to wish everyone who is a member of The Recorder the best of luck in the future. I think you will all be fine, but a little luck never hurts. More specifically, I would like to congratulate Michael Walsh for becoming the new Editor-in-Chief, and I think he will certainly excel at the position. Also, I would like to thank Brittany Burke, my Assistant Sports Editor, for her work, both before she became my assistant and after. She really helped us hold the back end of the paper together this year, and I cannot thank her enough for it. Both Burke and Walsh will be important parts of the paper in the future, as they are now.
My time at The Recorder may be coming to a close, but I have learned quite a lot here, and I will use this knowledge every day for the rest of my life. Thanks for everything. I won’t be too far, so if anyone ever needs any advice or help, I got you.
Christopher Boulay, CCSU’10-’11, Sports Editor 2009-2010