This reminds me of my time here on the "Union." I look to the right of me at the corner desk that is operated by Nick Ingram, sports editor, and I remember my first semester Matt "Guns and Roses" Lopez sat there as my editor-in-chief my first semester on staff. I look to the left and where Megan sits is where Robert Doss and Christian Vasquez owned the sports page. I look at the photo computers and see the computer that John Maiorelli occupied as Photo editor my first semester. Thinking about the time I have spent and I what I have seen, learned, from going through my own "ER-esque" revolving door of characters.
Sure old staff make special appearances every so often, Lopez coming to hang out, Maiorelli visiting just to get some photos off the server, I've even met people from before I was on staff like Anna Mavromati, the old editor in chief, who stopped by to visit Lori and I had the pleasure to show her around the Union's new newsroom. But it is this current staff of editors and writers I feel akin too just as my first semester on staff was. I have began to realize that everyone around me is leaving and though my decision to stay on the "Union" is still up in the air, I realize the people I consider to be like my brothers and sisters are leaving the staff and continuing forward which means a whole new era of Union editors is about to take place, with fresh faces filling in the holes left open by the departing.
The "Union" has taught me much about dedication and hard work, its made me a better social person (C'mon it is a good feeling to walk outside and around campus and everyone knows your name because of what you do). So if this is my last semester on staff there is no better time than now to say that this is one of the best experiences I have had and that I encourage all the writers from this semester to come back and do it again next semester. I also want to extend a congratulations to my departing staff members:
Nick (Sports Editor): I would hope you could come back as our E-I-C as I believe you would be the best one for the job but if you land that internship, Go for it, there is so much I have learned from watching you as a editor especially in the core values of leadership
Megan (News Editor): When in SFSU remember to swing on the swing in BART, also thank you for page editing some of my stories because I know you are the one who knows it just that much better than most people.
Jen (Arts Editor): Your first semester on staff and you all ready leaving like David Caruso's only season on "NYPD Blue" for Sacramento State... but you made an impact on the Arts page with your interesting cut-outs for Rising Star and your passion for the page... Also thanks for making fun of me for being "the worst filipino in the world."
Miyu (EIC): Well Miyu it has been a tough semester for not only us but you as you headed both magazine and newspaper but you did both very well. Thanks for always supporting me on my pages and never displaying too much concern on what I was doing as long I did it. Good Luck in Sacramento State, I am sure you will do a "hella" job there.
Filip (The Photo Editor): You always came through for us, Daddy ( a nickname for him because he always seems like a fatherly type), when not scolding me for stretching photos or squashing them because I tended to sometimes not hold shift, but you were the guy who knew both photos and In-Design which proved valuable to us. Also thanks for the last minute things you would do for me like make a photo illustration. Well done sir.
Suzy (Arts Editor): Well Suzy, we are coming to the end of our journey, that you and I both began in J1 (along with Miyu and Megan) but I do remember you mostly when I wasn't flirting with another girl in class you may remember, but that is besides the point. From the first semester one we became pretty good friends, your someone I could usually turn to, but now London is calling you to a far away land and who knows I would love to make a guest appearance in London. You have a lot going for you right now, and your on DAY 11 of not smoking so way to go Suzy.
What is left to say about the departing group of editors: Well we could go out like the Sopranos and I could just abruptly end it.............................................
Or I could end it like "ER" with another day at the office because just as Dr. Carter looked at a young doctor and said are "You coming," I sit here and Suzy is working right across from me and she smiles and I think: One more issue, for old times sake!
Oh wait, that is right, there is one more issue.
