Jordan Schrader

Editor in Chief

If I can’t express my thoughts clearly in this space, it’s because I’m still recovering 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 Fleming 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 happening in the world around them. For little recognition and less pay, they inform, delight, and hold the powerful accountable.

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 girlfriend, 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 special occasions. Arts is certainly unique in that regard. The production was great; the people I met were even better. 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 certainly 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 becoming friends as well as co-workers.

To team Hitemup: “Hoping for better 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 gotten in return has been so much better. Thanks for a lifetime of memories.

 

Tony Ding

Managing Photo Editor