SENIOR EDITION
The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 28, 2005 - 3
Seniors bid farewell
Jordan Schrader
Editor in Chief
If I can't express my thoughts clearly
i this space, it's because I'm still recov-
ering from the view of the campus I just
had: a view from the top of the Student
Publications Building that literally took
my breath away. I was in the heart of the
Daily, and that meant I was at the heart
of this university I love so much, whose
evening lights I could see spread out
before me. Because I'm convinced the
soul of this campus is not in the Flem-
ing Building or Angell Hall - it's in the
place where for 114 years young people
with high ideals have worked every day
to perform the simple but essential public
service of telling people what is happen-
ing in the world around them. For little
recognition and less pay, they inform,
delight, and hold the powerful account-
able.
But the most amazing thing about
that little chamber overlooking campus
is that only one person each year will sit
there and see its walls, see that view. Jon
and Louie, the ones who believed in me
and guided me, saw it. Jason, you'll see it.
Some staffer who is now impressing his
or her elders with talent and dedication
will see it. Someone who I've barely met
will see it, and so will hundreds of people
I'll never know yet with whom I'll share a
bond stronger than family. To all of you,
and to all the others who find themselves
at 420 Maynard St. in the future: Enjoy it.
Don't let it go by too fast. And despite all
my outpouring of emotion - never take
yourself too seriously.
Jason Roberts
Managing Arts Editor
The Daily is a funny place.
For most people, it is a second home;
a place away from school, exams, lame
discussion sections and a plague of all-
nighters. I never had any intention on
joining the Daily when I first started
school here. The only reason I showed
up in the Arts room on that September
night in 2002 was because my girl-
friend, Niamh, didn't want to walk to
the building alone in the dark.
Looking back, it's been the best move
of my college career.
I've met a lot of fantastic people at
the Daily, people that I wouldn't have
normally been paired up with outside of
the confines of 420 Maynard. Making
an Arts page four days out of the week
was certainly a highlight of my routine;
we, as a staff, get to do things and get
away with things on a daily basis that
the other sections have to save for spe-
cial occasions. Arts is certainly unique
in that regard. The production was
great; the people I met were even bet-
ter. I want to thank everyone involved in
the past, present and future - especially
the wonderful lady that brought me here
in the first place. I love you a whole
lot, kiddo. Thanks for putting up with
the late nights and my badgered moods
when I'd come home a little less upbeat
than usual, and thank you for sticking
with me for so long.
To you, the readers: If you haven't
stepped foot inside 420 Maynard during
your time here at the 'U,' you're certain-
ly missing out. Stop by and pick up some
free stuff (you know that's the reason we
write for Arts in the first place), write a
review, get into an argument about the
best noise-rock of the late '90s, debate
the merits of the five star rating system
- do anything. Just get involved.
Take care, everyone.
Tomislav Ladika
Managing News Editor
When I first joined the Michigan
Daily, I promised myself not to write
more than once a week. Since then,
done everything from sleep outside the
Supreme Court on a cardboard box and
to stay up until 6 a.m. on Election night
- all for the Daily. This place sucks you
in, and all you can do is enjoy the ride.
To Yayteam and my thugs: Thanks for
putting so much faith in me and becom-
ing friends as well as co-workers.
To team Hitemup: "Hoping for bet-
ter days, maybe a peaceful night/Baby
don't cry cause everything gonna be
alright."
To everyone else: Next time you flip
to the crossword, think first about how
much effort it takes to put out a paper
each day. The Daily staff consists of the
most dedicated students on campus.
And to the Daily: You've cost me so
much sleep and stress, but what I've got-
ten in return has been so much better.
Thanks for a lifetime of memories.
Tony Ding
Managing Photo Editor
Going deaf from the Cameron Cra-
zies at Krzyzewskiville: $0 dollars.
Being bored after doubleheaders of
hoops at the United Center and Con-
seco FieldHouse: $0 dollars. Strolling
the turf on Football Saturdays at six
Big Ten stadiums: $0 dollars. Avoiding
pucks from between the benches at Joe
Louis Arena: $0 dollars. Checking two
courtside folding chairs from Vanderbilt
on a Northwest flight: $0 dollars. Flying
home to see Michigan lynched by the
Ducks: $0 dollars. Salvaging a 12 hour
drive to New Hampshire by hording
lobster courtesy of the NCAA Hockey
Regional: $0 dollars. Being blasphe-
mous at Touchdown Jesus-twice:
$0 dollars. Back2back escorts by the
California Highway Patrol to two Rose
Bowls: $0 dollars. Spending my college
years with the most enjoyable friends
through triumphs and tribulations:
PRICELESS.
The Daily has afforded me with pre-
cious memories that I will cherish for-
ever. As a new class of inspiration step
up to their place, I wish them the best.
Thanks to all those whom I've had the
privilege to work with, it has truly been
an enlightening experience. To those
that shared my memories, thanks for the
company.
Quick shout-outs to RJW, JMC, ECB,
you guys have been loyal methods to my
madness. Thanks for the vision Katz and
Molo, you guys patiently taught me all I
know. To my photogs, never loose faith,
shoot first, and believe in your talents!
Gennaro Filice
Managing Sports Editor
(Insert nostalgic classic rock quote
here - ex: "What a long, strange trip
it's been."). '
I'd like to thank Cartman, the "Paw-
tucket Pat" episode of Family Guy,
A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight
Marauders," Master Shake, the Scooby
Doo rendition of the "Harlem Globe-
trotters," Nickelodeon's "Global Guts"
(Do you have it?), E!'s late night reruns
of "Wild On" with Brooke Burke, the
Swingers NHL '94 scene, the French
Jordan (a.k.a. Mickael Pietrus), the
incomprehensible Jamaican dude from
"Belly" ("Lennox," I believe), "Mr.
Plow", Coach K College Basketball's
virtual O'Bannon brothers, Fusion
Frenzy's "Rollmentum" (remember
American Gladiators' Atlasphere?),
my New Balance 991s, Keith Hafner,
Jimmy Johns' No. 9, O.J., banana pep-
pers and anyone who actually took some
time out of their Friday to take in some
wistful, inside-joke-laden words from a
few pen-happy seniors.
Dan Adams
Associate Editorial Editor
To Johanna - thank you for getting me
here. How you managed to do that, I don't
know, but I'm better for it. I think.
To Zac and Aubrey - you guys are two
of the smartest people that I've met at the
University. Period. Thanks for keeping
me here. Once again, I have no idea how
you did that.
To Jason - I tried to give you my very
best. I hope I did. Run the paper how you
think it should be run. Good luck this
year.
To Suhael and Sam - thanks for step-
ping up when we needed you to. Take care
of your staff, write what needs written.
Most of all, friend or foe, take it to 'em.
If they call you heterosexists, don't worry
about it - you're probably doing some-
thing right.
To Matt and Chris - you guys are the
future. Until it's your ship, just make sure
Suhael and Sam don't go insane.
To Mara, Whitney, Katherine, Sara,
Daniel, Jesse, Theresa, Nick, Andy, Rajiv,
Saamir, David and Dan, (I hope I didn't
miss anyone, but if I did, you know who
you are. Include yourself.) thank you for
showing up, everyday. You write for no
money, receive virtually no recognition
and occasionally have your work com-
pletely redone before it gets on the page.
It's a thankless job, I know... except for
right now. Thank you. If you want it,
you'll be rewarded for your efforts. I know
I was.
Most of all, thank you Mom and Dad.
Mom, for teaching me that some fights are
worth fighting. Dad, for the countless con-
versations, most of which made it into the
paper one way or another. Also, Swarup.
Daniel Bremmer
Sports Editor
I'm not one for huge goodbyes.
Thanks especially to my class of edi-
tors - Gennaro, Burke, Bob, Schick
and Sharad - my fellow Daily workers
- Ellen, Megology, Holman and Eric
- and my roommates - Andy, J.P.
and Justin. Thanks also to the internet,
TiVo, the New Jersey Nets (the last two
years), Seinfeld, the Family Guy, my
friends at home and everyone/every-
thing else that has made college and life
at Michigan amazing. To the future of
the Daily - have a great time, remem-
ber our tradition, keep up the good work
and avoid the asbestos.
Emily Kraack
News Editor
I walked into the Daily for the first
time while looking for the debate team.
Three years later, I have a key to the
Daily and still haven't found the debate
team. Their loss is my gain. During my
three years here, I have learned more
about the University of Michigan than
I should probably tell, have met people
who are crazy or intelligent and some-
times a little bit of both, and have com-
pletely fallen in love with the awkward
field of journalism. I promised never to
give life advice before age 50, but I must
give in at the ripe old age of 22 instead.
Don't bother giving yourself half-heart-
edly to a whole bunch of groups and
issues. Instead, give your whole self to
whatever you care about and don't both-
er thinking about the repercussions until
they bite you in the ass. Lord knows, I've
given whatever I could to this silly news-
paper; maybe I've come out with a few
low grades, but I've gained the world in
friends, memories and experiences. To
Jordan, Tom, Ali, Carmen, Kaplan and
Berko - I'm looking forward to meet-
ing you again in ten years and finding
out how you've made the world a bet-
ter place. To the news staff - you've
got the brains, the skills and the knowl-
edge, just find the passion and this paper
will make you kings and queens of the
world. Yayteam and the Koivu clan, you
made me into this monster. Thanks for
everything.
Jen Misthal
Associate Editoral Editor
For a long time, 420 Maynard St. was
mystical, filled with tradition and
secrets waiting to be discovered. I
was convinced I would never genuinely
be a part of the Daily or fully under-
stand it. It took me a while to get
comfortable here.
Yet here I am, a senior, a Daily staffer
since the second week of freshman year
with two editorships under my belt. As
a freshman, I was terrified of the upper-
classmen: They knew everything and
everyone. When I realize I'm one of
them, I can't help but ask, "how did this
happen?"
I stuck it out and got one of the most
rewarding experiences I could ask for.
It was here that I discovered myself
and fell in love with journalism - a love
based on adrenaline and late nights, but
a lasting one nonetheless.
It wasn't always perfect. There were
times when the last thing I wanted was
to re-enter the building and other
times when I came running in the door.
In retrospect, I wouldn't change a
minute.
The lesson of it all: Keep your sense
of humor through it all. If you're
not having fun, you're doing it all
wrong.
To the editors who taught me the
ropes, I'm forever grateful. Pesick, you
took a gamble of me and I don't regret
a second. Ashley, Doug, Rotten,
Ryan, Sam and Suhael: I can't think
of better hands to leave the Daily in.
Thanks to the friends who stood by
for it all. Yayteam! You know how I
feel. This wouldn't have meant anything
without learning what teamwork is all
about.
Jeremy Berkowitz
News Editor
I can't think of the stupidest deci-
sion I've made in college, although I
know a few people who might offei
their opinions. However, I know the
smartest thing I did was walking intc
the Daily newsroom in October 2001.
taking my first story, and "selling my
soul to the Devil" as a former editoa
once put it.
I ignored classes, sometimes my
friends, to spend 40 hours every
week asking questions about resi-
dence hall crime and affirmative
action, and informing students aboui
what was happening around them.
I've slept on Daily couches and card-
board boxes outside the Supreme
Court. I always tried to get the infor-
mation out while avoiding pissing ofl
University officials and my editors
alike, most of the time. I leave witl
memories of almost 300 bylines.
many good friends, some enemies.
and a few really bad hangovers aftej
some long, painful days.
I didn't get here alone. To Grass
and Schwartz: Thanks for treating
a cocky freshman with respect and
showing him how much fun the Daily
is. To former editors, especially Sha-
bina, Maria and Jordan: Thanks foi
always pushing me to the limit and
putting up with my occasional antics.
To Carmen, Emily, Tomislav, and
Kaplan: It was a blast working witlh
all of you. The toughest thing about
this past fall was knowing what I was
missing at 2 a.m. To the new MDesk:
Keep it real, and remember if you're
not having fun at least 90% of the
time, something's not right.
m