SENIOR GOODBYES The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 30, 2004 - 5 day want to be a part of The Daily consumed my soul and snacked on my still-beating heart. Fuck you, Daily. Fuck you. Smeagol Todd: I never wanted to be a part of The Daily, but thanks to the weezer.com message board and fellow user Luke Smith, I took one step in 420 Maynard and could never leave. Partially because they wouldn't let me, but mostly because I fell in love with it. I love the past: Erin, Fogelj, Robin, Lyle, Luke, Jeff, Andy, Matt, everyone else. And I love the future: Jason, Alex, Adam, Zach, Jason, Andrew, no one else. The present was- n't so bad either...Berkley represent! And for all my time here, this is all I've learned: "For relaxing times, make it Sontori time." That's that. TODD WEISER ManagingArts Editor My college experience has consisted almost entirely of me stumbling into exactly the right places at exactly the right times. I stumbled into the Daily, a wide-eyed fresh- man, and I'm about to stumble out for good - a wide-eyed senior. Words are not enough for this place, this fabulous dilapidated old building and the people who pass through it. I am grateful to the Daily for every piece of hatemail, every irate phone call, every all- nighter, every shouting match, every headache it brought into my life. These things have made me stronger. And for the people I've met here, people I've been honored to call my editors and humbled to call my friends ... Words don't cut it. Nope. Not even close. AUBREY HENRETTY Editorial Page Editor "We were killers with the cold eyes of sailor" --SM Heght: 5' 11." Weight: 175. Articles writ- ten: about 90. Deadlines missed: about 73. Personal heroes insulted in print: 5. Times my mother asked me to stop saying "shit" and "damn" in articles: 56 Older kids who bought me beer the first night they met me and gave me history to live up to for the rest of my tenure: Lyle, Keith, Luke, Jeff and Andy People I never told that I was in awe of: Todd, Jason, Joel, Aubrey and Zac (also see above). Hours wasted: 1,026. Star ratings changed without writers' knowledge -201 Friend who waited for a column way too often: Charles and Rebecca Free CDs: 91 Kids encouraged to keep shit real: Andrew, Alex, Sean, and Sravya. People not named but deserving thanks: 12 Girlfriends through all of it: I SCOTT SERLA Arts Editor First off, I want to say good luck to everyone on sports staff that will be here next year or is leaving. I want to thank Courtney and Kyle for everything this year, and I wish you too the best of luck in the future. And finally, to J. Brady and Burke, you guys really made my time here worth it, so thanks for everything. To my best friends, I want to say thanks. Sahil, good luck next year, I'll miss you buddy, but I know we'll see each other. To Aaron, we'll always have NHL 94, and even when we're 70, I'll still own you. To Sumit, thanks for always being there for me. You're the man. To Rahul, you're my hero. Don't go too far away, I'm going to miss you. Good luck with SAAN this weekend you guys!! To Avani, you're the greatest, and you've made this year very special for me. Thank you. And finally, to Sharad and Nathan, good luck next year. And Nathan and Susan, con- grats on your engagement. I love you guys. NAWEED SixoRA Sports Editor I'm saving my goodbyes for later, so I offer all of you this advice: Do it because you want to, have fun, be happy, and if you want to find the meaning of life, call 989- 892-5557. KYLE O'NELL Sports Editor Thanks for holding my hair while I chun- ked off the balcony SETH LOWER Photo Editor Who would have imagined that the Daily would turn out to be a better experience than studying in Rome? (Not that I can actually vouch for this) Who needs art, real espressos and Italian boyfriends when you have pages that you put together, fifty-cent Diet Cokes and Todd, Charles and Scott - you guys are like my brothers! Thanks to everyone who made my expe- rience here amazing. I know I could get really slap-happy and whiny, and I appreciate you all for putting up with me. I seriously freak out when I think about one day having differ- ent co-workers. To those who helped me understand what this was all about: you are all appreciated. To my housemates: we will now get to see each other! To the BHS crew (Jon, Aubs and Todd - yeah, longest friend- ship!): may we always dominate the Daily. Good luck to the new editors. Ciao! REBECCA RAMSEY Weekend Editor They've kept me locked away in the basement since my sophomore year, made me eat Magic Wok and forced me to write news stories. Three years later, not only can I say that I survived, but that I am also more informed, extremely paranoid and infertile. Thanks, Daily. KYLENE KIANG News Editor As for me, the Daily had a relatively small impact on my life other than wasting more of my time watching movies. Two years ago, a nameless friend of mine - we'll call him T. Weiser, or Todd W for short - brought me in because he needed a writer, so I wrote. Then they let me become an editor because there was nobody else, so I edited. Now my time is up and they're kicking me out, but with my hundreds of hours of free cinema- going, thousands of dollars worth of free DVDs and a person who thinks expressing opinions means the castration of editorial freedom, I fade away satisfied. So thank you Todd, Scott, Chuck, Becks, Jeff, Luke, Katie, Joel, other people and, most of all, myself. Peace, we out! RYAN LEWIs Film Editor I showed up at the Daily as a freshman because I promised someone I'd check it out. I wasn't sure I'd stick around, and I had no idea that three-and-a-half years later, I'd be able to say I went to a Rose Bowl and a Frozen Four and I chatted with legends. But the games and the stadiums will fade. It's the remarkable people that will stay with me. I'm grateful to everyone who has pushed me to be better. To my seniors, it's impossible to sum up everything Daily Sports means to me, but what's important is that you're my guys and you've made this unfor- gettable. COURTNEY LEWIS Sports Editor To the left wing of the Michigan Daily - I bid you farewell, you real people of valor - you who gave the finger to the Man, you who wrote for good - not to see yourself in print or to have a pulpit, not as a pundit or as an impartial cynical outsider. This is a thank you to those who wrote with purpose, who believed in justice and someday will win. So thank you to Mike Grass and Nick Woomer and Dave Enders and John Honkala and Rob Goodspeed and Ari Paul. You, and the few others I've missed, are where the true spirit of the Daily should forever reside. If our paper once again wants a place in history as part of a greater debate, it is your spirit we must channel. To those of you, old and new, who see the Michigan Daily not just as a newspa- per but as a force for positive change, I salute you and beg acceptance to your club. JESS PISKOR Editorial Page Associate Editor This farewell letter is like most of the other stuff that has happened to me athe Daily in my four years: Only those at the Daily truly understand the importance. For four years here, I've just gone about my work trying to do the best that I can. But now, as I get prepared to bail out, it's beginning to sink in that I'm about to go down as part of 113 years of history. I'd like to thank the sports writers that I've spent the most time with: Naweed Sikora, J. Bradyand Seth Klempner. There are plenty of others that will definitely be recalled in my (What happens at the Daily stays in the Daily) memories. Whenever I, as astudent at this University, have wondered to myself what it is that I'm accomplishing here, I always need look no fur- ther than the Daily. It's been my outlet when I'm bored in school, my release when I'm frustrated with life. And the things that have happened inside the walls of the Daily or on road trips for the Daily, I couldn't possible describe in this space. I wish those who come after me in sports the best of luck: we've done our best to make the place enjoyable, and I hope that the level of entertainment translates down. Heck, we've alienated ourselves from every other section in the pursuit of fun. But it's been worth it. I couldn't possibly attempt to replace this place. Thank you to everyone, past and present, who have made The Michigan Daily what it was for me. CHRIS BUNE Sports Editor The Daily was such an important part of my college career. I had so much funmet a lot of wonderful people, and learned so much. To everyone last summer: Thanks for all of your hard work. It was a great summer. To Andrew, Victoria, and Sravya: Let's eat sushi. I love you guys! To outgoing news editors and Louie: It was great working with you. Good job! To Karen and Min: Multicultural beat rules! Thanks to all of the people who patiently answered my phone calls and let me cover their events. And lastly, thanks to all of the edi- tors and writers that I worked with in the past three years. I will miss you all. SOOJUNG CHANG News Staff I may be the only person who became an editor when he wasn't even working at the paper, but I am truly greatful for the phone call I received whileoverseas. I have had a long sleepless and stressful year, but possibly one of the most memorable. I have seen peo- ple come and go, got sick, then got better,and made some great friends along the way. A short list of the people I owe thanks to include t-dizzle, katz, jessie&louis, molopho- to, BGO, triest,louiesmom, all the other pho- togs, and Sarah who always believed in me and didn't let me quit, numerous times. Hazel will always be the daily dog, and photogs will forever be respected, thanks for the fun. BRETT MoUNTAN Photo Editor I can't imagine anyone with a last name different than mine, or without intimate knowledge of me reading this, but if there exists some hapless soul out there, who is bored beyond my comprehension of the word, let me tell you the one thing you need to know about the Daily: We do it for the fans. Aside from all the money, cars and women the Daily provides in abundance to its editors, we publish this piece of glorious jour- nalism five days a week for you. While you may have casually or haphazardly cast it aside in favor of thecrossword puzzle on occasion, we, as editors, writers and photog- raphers, still work diligently, giving up our time, for you, to make sure you know, what you need to know. So that's it, there's the big secret of The Michigan Daily. It's been a blast and we loved writing for you. CHARLES PARADIs Weekend Editor For several years, The Michigan Daily consumed my life and shaped me in amulti- tude of wonderful ways. While I have enjoyed my semi-retirement during the last year, I will always relish the experiences and people that-made this job so enjoyable. Some of my best friends (Joe, Jon, Kern, Ben, Horn, Frances, etc.) have already left to pur- sue life in the real world, and many more good friends are celebrating with me tonight. The message I want to send to all the future Daily leaders is a simple one. Put your pas- sion into the pages everyday - then you can leave this place with ahappy heart. STEVE JACKSON Sports Staff Former Managing Sports Editor "Behold, ye scoffers, be much amazed and perish, for I work a work in your days." -Acts 13:41 Three and a half years ago, many many kegs ago, eight history classes ago, two girl- friends ago, I stepped into 420 Maynard timid and mild, afraid that my voice wouldn't carry. And now, here I am, and I own you all. Hey, you think I've been mean to ya'll? Well, I was not put on this earth to play nicey-nice with screw-heads like you. To some people the Daily is like a nerv- ous tick thumping in the brain. To me the Daily is like a foreign chick jumping in the rain. After all the debates, late night caffeine binges and a brush with death involving a barbeque beef sandwich while covering an antiwar protest in Washington, I have to say it was worth all the wooziness I got from the ink fumes. Of course, none of this was possible without those that have since moved onwards: Woomer, Grass, Honkala, Pais, Livshiz, "Easy-E" Enders, Zahr, Raiji, Tay- lor-Fabe, Nish, Syed, Hanink, and if I've for- gotten you then you know who you are. "Hey, Ari! Why don"'t you make 10 longer and have that be the last line?" asks Louie Meizlish. Because this goodbye goes to 11. Fin. ARi PAUL Opinion Columnist Thanks to four sets of editors, Jane, James, msprow, Jeremy and everyone else who has filled this place with memories and meaning. It has been a great adventure and an experience that really shaped my time at the University. I can't imagine it having gone any other way. Thanks also to the people who returned my calls, patiently answered my questions and shared their stories with me these past four years. I've learned so much. It went by much faster than I'd ever imag- ined it could, but it's been filled with good conversation, the exhilaration of pushing against deadlines and the excitement of (mostly) meeting them. To current and incoming writers - it's worth it. To the next set of editors - good luck and you rock! KAREN SCHWARTZ News Staff Contrary to popular belief, I do still work at this paper. However, since I don't know the names of half the current staffers, it's proba- bly time for me to bow out. Real thanks go to the people that dealt with the bureaucracy so I could sit on the sidelines, be complacent and take pictures. Chief amoung them: Katz, AWood, Molo, TDing, BMountain, and Triest. Well, not Triest, he doesn't do much of anything. He's barely even a photographer. And if nothing else, I leamed to always bring a good book on a Daily road- trip because you never know what can hap- pen. Right Moo? BRENDAN O'DONNELL Photo Staff It all started when I walked in this building August 2000. What an amazing ride it has been over the years. I'll never forget all I've learned because of the Daily. Thanks to the helpful Mich Athletic Office who was by my side as I worked through my years pursuing a sports pho- tography career. John Lowe, your support has been invaluable! THANKS! I'd like to give a "HEY how are ya!? It's been jucy, its been tart, and someimtesbusted. Lev- enthal Ice Slip, Ward 500 2.8, worthless- daysider, sleeping on dressers, floors, fetalposition-Naveed & Seth, Buffalo LAK, "I'm sorry, Steve Jackson," MJM WWF Smackdown, Wooda! Talks with Katz(Those truly life changing, thanks man!) JLT Profile photos, BGO rolling the shocker, S-Lower faster, and to BMountai I know you and Sarah will set me up someday...I have had my fair share of disagreements here and I hold no grudges as deep down I am proud of all of us to be able to work together, disagree, yell at times, but in the -end put out the best damn daily college newspaper in the country working with all who I consider my freinds. I wake up the next morning, sit in class and watch as everyone reads the newspaper that we all worked hard on together the night before. I simle, "This is what college is all about." DANNY MOLOSHOK Photo Staff It's impossible for me to sum up, in a few paragraphs, what the Daily has meant to my college experience. It's cliche to say, but it's hard for me to believe that this is it. I'll cer- tainly miss the late nights and the road trips and the laughs. I just want to thank everyone who has helped make this place sospecial. To the future sports staffers, keep at it, and learn the pump buttons. It's worth it. DAN ROSEN Sports Staff Four years at The Michigan Daily are over, and it's been some good times. As Isit here drinking my gin and tonic - I can't help but feel satisfied. Having been cursed with no athletic talent, I've been able to keep close to my love of college wrestling by covering it the past three seasons. Sitting in the press row at the NCAA Championships as Cael Sanderson made history was nothing less than a dream for me. The 15-hour road trips, Daily vs. State News footballgames, Motel 8s, and delicious, delicious pit stops at Steak and Shake will be memories I'll always cher- ish. ERIC CHAN Sports Staff I applied to the Daily because Todd Weis- er forced me to. So needless to say, I became a Photojournalist. Hardly. Now that I'm leav- ing, I must tell you that of the 212 people I photographed these past few years, 207 of theT were friends. And not like "I met you once, can I take your picture?" friends, but rather "I've known you my whole life, will you please pretend you have herpes for this picture?" friends. On a serious note, I would really like to give a shout out to Brent and Nancy. Without you guys I would never have had the chance to take a picture. Much love! JON TRlEsr Photo Staff I hate this school for a multitude of rea- sons but when I randomly decided to try for an edit column at this racist institution it was easily the best thing I've done or found in Ann Arbor. It's easy to stand on the side and bitch it's another to actually do something and join. Doing this has honestly shown me a lot about myself and I ended up doing a lot of shit I'd never have imagined doing. But I guess that's the ultimate goal of college, to find something that engages and has any meaning. I wish I could have started as a peon freshman because I would have a shit- load more of free stuff than I do now but it's better to have found it now than never. Thanks to all the knowledgeable editors who ever helped my writing. Brooklyn bitches. HUSSAIN RAHtI Opinion Columnist, Arts Writer I'm not leaving till next fall, unless they kick me out early. But I should still say thanks to the Daily. Thanks Daily. And thanks Aubrey & Zac for column stuff, Joel for arts, Scott for rescuing me at the Strokes concert. I don't know why everyone makes these good- byes so long. Maybe if I worked here longer I'd understand. Oh by the way, this one time, this guy from Newsweek wrote me and said, "I like your stuff; can you write for me?" And I said "Yeah," and he said "Oh, too late." It sucked. But thanks Daily, for setting me up for a big disappointment. STEVE COTm * Opinion Columnist U U The Naked Mile was the Best Campus Tradition. Is it still? You decide. You vote. You go first.