Remarks on growing up

In three and a half years, the Daily has taught me more than any journalism class ever could. And this year it taught me the most important lesson I’ll ever learn: When the bullets are coming toward you from every direction, the man who stands strong will eventually survive. Before me, 111 years of editors have learned this, that no one outside the old building at 420 Maynard St. will ever control the Daily, and the lesson will surely carry on for the next 111. The Daily stood tall this year in the face of adversity and the paper is stronger for it. So am I.

The Daily gave me nearly everything I got in college. The tradition, the camaraderie, the paper itself – my memories of Michigan will always reside in the Daily’s newsroom. To those who helped get me there, I’ll never forget you. To those who come after me, take it all in. It’s the best time of your life.

Jon Schwartz

Editor-in-Chief

For me, the Daily has been one giant love affair, the longest of my relatively short life. Sadly, we amicably parted ways yesterday after walking hand in hand for over three and a half years. Things weren’t always smooth – we had our share of turmoil. But at the end of the night, come hell or high water, we were always back together, and we always had a paper to show for it. This was, perhaps, the toughest year of our relationship, but we were able to make it through, as we always do. The only reason for our separation is that it’s now time for me to move on, but I know that wherever I go and whatever I do, the people I’ve met and the experiences we’ve shared will forever define my college experience.

Lisa Koivu

Managing News Editor

We inherited a situation without direction. We were a group without a leader. People had lost confidence in us. Many thought it was an uphill battle that couldn’t be won. But we did it. We took it upon ourselves to make it happen. We were determined to do it and we overcame insurmountable odds. Each and every one of you has lent a strong hand in this transformation. You should be proud – You worked. You thought. You created – And it is this strength of character that each of you uniquely displayed that must carry on next year and throughout your lives. I want to thank each of you for the opportunity you gave me to be your leader and friend. I want to especially thank Danny, Brendan and Alyssa for their support when it was most needed. CMYK. MJM.

David Katz

Managing Photo Editor

“Public opinion exists only where there are no ideas.”- Oscar Wilde

Judging from the box offices of films, CD sales and television ratings, the American public has poor taste, no ideas and empty wallets. Selling millions of CDs or movie tickets do not and will not ever designate a good album or film. Sadly, the public will never understand what is good in film and music. Thankfully, there’s a Daily Arts.

There are a handful of thanks to go around, none of which will be mentioned here. Thank you’s are for faces, not pages. To circle the gratitude wagons would be solely parody of myriad thanks forever trapped in ink. Someone I thank could be a terrorist funded by drug money, maybe have bought The Rising, or even have killed a dog.

And I, in a moment of sentimental weakness will have actually thanked them. No, I will thank no one here. It’s preventative, nothing personal.

Say “That’s that” mattress man.

That’s that.

Luke Smith

Managing Arts Editor/Columnist

I love The Michigan Daily … it’s so bad.

Jeff Dickerson

Arts Editor

I’m not sure exactly how I got conned into becoming Weekend editor, but it has actually been fun, and I would like to thank the seven people who read it regularly (and a pox on those of you who still shake it out of the paper).

I have learned that the Daily can be a cruel, possessive and jealous bitch, but she still has a special place in my heart (Gag). To the reasons the Daily has been enjoyable: the benevolent dictator Luke, Jeff a.k.a. Dignan, my partner in crime Caitlin “Whiskey Wednesday” Nish, Grahambino the Sex Machino and Joey, the first and only official Daily Hip-Hop Writer – thanks. Also, thanks to alumni Kula, Gabe, Cousino, Matt, Goldstein, fogelj, Grandstaff and of course, the bald Adonis, Lyle Henretty2Rumble.

Andy Taylor-Fabe

Weekend Magazine Editor

When I look back on my time at the Daily, it amazes me that each night a bunch of kids put out a newspaper. Thank you to all the people I’ve worked with who have taught me so much. Thank you to the editors who convinced me to stay every time I threatened to quit, especially Nick and Jaimie. Thank you to Lisa for always listening and to Andy, Jeff and Luke for making me a real part of the Arts staff. And thank you to Nick for driving half the staff home every night and listening to me complain the entire way!

Caitlin Nish

Weekend Editor

Because of this place, I got free DVDs. Because of this place, I got to see tv shows and movies ahead of time, and got paid next to nothing so I wouldn’t have to get a real job. Thanks to everyone here, on the edit staff (two years) and arts (the finest two years): Andy, Caitlin, Todd, Scott, Christine. The best writers in arts (Katie, Jaya, Doug, Adam, Dan and Christian) and to all the writers whose stories I’ve edited.

It’s the writers that make this place and their work, like ours (hopefully) has been appreciated. To Gordon, Dan and Scott for laughing at me whenever I was out for 10 hours at a time working at this place: ha ha. And Jeff and Luke: 1. “American Beauty” rules. 2. “Punch-Drunk” sucks. 3. U2 and Springsteen rule. End of story.

Ryan Blay

TV/New Media Editor

I was thrown into a job I didn’t know how to do, with a group of people I didn’t know, overshadowed with the understanding that, even before I could ever get a real grasp on what I was doing, my position would have to be bequeathed to the younger generation.

Needless to say, I was optimistic.

Daily Arts was a tumultuous environment, filled with people I would have never known on the outside. And while I know that I will never truly appreciate my four months there until its line on my resume gets me a job… I will certainly never forget it.

Thanks to all who made it the experience that it was. Like they always say: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Now I’m stronger.

Christine Maura Lasek

Fine/ Performing Arts Editor

I must thank those who have made my time the exciting one that it has been. I’ve been allowed and encouraged to pursue both my passion for writing and my myriad interests by a dynamic, thoughtful, intelligent, and charismatic group of people who have earned my respect and friendship. I can only hope that my colleagues carry a level of regard for me commensurate to that which I have for them. I have met great thinkers, great writers, and even better human beings.

Specificaly, I must acknowledge (in no particular order, I assure you) Johanna Hanink, Luke Smith, Jeff Dickerson, Andy Taylor-Fabe, Caitlin Nish, Zac Peskowitz, Aubrey Henretty, Todd Weiser, Scott Serilla, Charles Paradis and Rebecca Ramsey. Yet I would also like to thank all the members of the paper whose faces I so eagerly anticipated seeing on days when I trudged into the office, be they sports writers, edit board members, arts staffers or news reporters. Working for The Daily has been straight bangin’. Thank you to allwho’ve made it dope.

Joey Litman

Daily Hip Hop Writer/ Editorial Board

Without question, working at the Daily has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, most certainly the greatest of my college years. When I started as a freshman I could not comprehend how people could call the Daily “home” when I felt so disconnected. I will never forget my first real conversation with Lisa K., an invite to a secret slumber party with the older girls, Canada trips, Daily parties, bonding late nights with my coworkers from the summer weekly and the great friendships I formed in the last four years. I have been emotionally and me And when I look back and think about college, I will think about the Daily. I have never had such a good time.

Thank you to my fellow editors and reporters for making this an enjoyable year. Thank you Lisa, Charles, Beckstacy, Sara Bean, Joey, Kristen and Shanny for their unwavering support. Andrea suggested I get a tattoo of TMD so the Daily will always be with me, but thankfully it will always be in my heart. Thanks also to the toastedheads for filling my e-mail inbox with laughter and, as always, for the scandalous times. 😉 Shiza.

Jackie Nixon

News Editor

Kissing a flying pig is one of those things I thought I’d never get to do. But like so many other things, the Daily made that possible. I’ll never be able to express what these flimsy pages of newsprint have meant to me over the past three and a half years. Just suffice to say that you’ll never know how much passion, ambition, dedication and talent go into the making of each issue until you live it.

To all the editors who taught me: thank you. To all the new editors: good luck. To my family: thanks for listening to me whine and babble about the Daily. To Dave: thanks for being patient, for understanding and for always being there for me. To Packard: thanks for all the memories and mostly for not locking me out of Packard when I worked until (nearly) dawn. To Beirut: sorry I couldn’t do an article on Ann Arbor’s most eligible bachelors. To all Ann Arbor’s squirrels: for Monica’s sake, please stop procreating! To all my Daily bitches: We made it!

Elizabeth Kassab

News Editor

The real bonds you make with people are made at 3 a.m. over Diet Coke and under florescent lights when the printer isn’t working, and Victoria’s Secret does make products for men or at least men who desire to be women. I learned this and more during a few hundred hours at 420 Maynard. I want to thank my boyfriend Matt, who helped me drudge through the tough times and told me he was proud of me every night. To my Daily bitches, thanks for making The Daily the type of place I wanted to be. To B. Joseph White, thanks for always calling me back. To everyone who read my stories, I hope I made a little difference in the way you see this university. It’s been a pleasure.

Shannon Pettypiece

News Editor

My friends often ask me, “Why do you work for The Daily if you’re not going into journalism?” And I have to admit, the thought crossed my mind. After all, what would life be like if I had the time I spend at 420 Maynard all to myself? The answer seems simple – boring. Whether stressing over a headline at 1 a.m. or roasting marshmallows with the news staffers, the people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had at the Daily over the past few years have taught me far more than any class ever could. It’s hard to explain how one of the best experiences of my college career also led to pulling all-nighters, skipping class and losing touch with friends. But somewhere in it all, the faces and times spent at the Daily will forever remain my most cherished and remembered. Thanks guys and good luck!

Lisa Hoffman

News Editor

Not to steal from the words of others, but someone long gone once said: “I didn’t attend the University of Michigan. I attended the Michigan Daily.” (Or something like that). During my six semesters at the Daily, this place, these people, and this newspaper changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I first walked in here and said I wanted to help out with production. The only regret I really have is not walking over here sooner. It’s strange how it all started and where it led – from walkin in the building and not having any clue to what was going on to… well, here. (Deep thoughts by Maria).

I’m not leaving quite yet — this place will have a tough time getting rid of me, no matter how much Louie tries. But to the people who are leaving – esp. Lisa, Lis, Jackie, Liz, Shannon and Schwartz – it’s been an honor working with you all over the last couple years. Maria Sprow

News Reporter

I came into the Daily one autumn afternoon my freshman year to immerse myself into Michigan sports and have fun.

Just four short years later, I have myself a career.

And group of friends that I’ll never forget.

Of course, some memories may fade away several decades from now: the mile-or-so trek to the Varsity Tennis Center freshman year to cover practice, taking road trips to the always intriguing podunk, colleg hockey-crazy towns of Big Rapids and Sioux St. Marie and standing on the 50-yard line of Michigan Stadium during the Wolverines dramatic wins over Washington and Penn State this year.

But, as much as I loved my job, and spentcountless hours in an archaic building on 420 Maynard while the rest of campus was at the bars, one of the most pricless aspects I took away from my Daily career was those friends and colleagues that helped me, fought me and congratulated me along the way.

Thank you everyone.

Joe Smith

Sports Editor

I sat with Drew Henson in the visitor’s dugout of a AA ballpark. I watched LeBron James in person. I shook hands with Coach K and JoePa and yacked it up with Bo. But those are novelties; they are anecdotal. They are the bullet points on the Daily Sports brouchure – on the inside I found what came to define my college experience. The production of a newspaper requires the extension of real passion from real people, and I am indebted to those at 420 Maynard who shared their passion and pushed me to do better. Like so many others I came to the Daily almost by chance, and it shaped me and gave me room to grow in ways I would have never imagined four years ago. Thank you to everyone whom I have worked with – this was unforgettable.

David Horn

Columnist/Sports Editor

I will never forget my first mass meeting and wanting to write just to see my name in the paper. And now – well, let’s be honest, that hasn’t changed – but I have made some life-long friends and lived it up across the U.S. on the Daily’s dime. Now it is time for me to ride into sunset. To anyone that read my stories, I hope I made your progress to the crossword puzzle a little slower. To those who are still here at big D, I hope you don’t take it too seriously. To my friends, I hope that I’ve made your lives a little happier as you have made mine. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh … See ya!

Jeff Phillips

Sports Editor

How does one reflect upon the richest experience of his life? The Daily introduced me to my calling in life, provided me with some of my best friends and even saved my life last year. If you know me well enough, you may realize that I mean that in the most literal sense. Years from now, I will look back at TMD with only the greatest fondness. Samantha (my “cheeto”), Honkers the Finn, Enders, Fox, Aubs, Ari, Hanne, Maureen, Rena – you are extraordinary people who have changed my life in ways you may never know. To Potash! – you guys rock very, very hard. We went down the path of excess together and we’re finally at the tower. Finally, to the individuals and organizations who boycotted The Michigan Daily – thanks for bringing a smile to my face. Y’all are so cute! Anyhoo, time to wind it up … I love this fucking place. Dev borem korum. Peace in the Middle East. End the war on drugs. Free Goa! Now, just let me sleep; I am weary.

Neal George Pais

Editorial board member, Books Editor

Whether I was driving to some goforesaken place (Joe Louis Arena), toking up (the Ghetto Mart), just trying to get some (NSB) or trying to escape the cops in Michigan Stadium (1229 White), you all helped keep me sain. This goes out to those who forced me to take a drink for my own good (Ambrose), and to all those who kept me laughing throughout it all. Its been the best trip of my life – for better and worse. I can only hope that I didn’t misspell anything here and that I didn’t leave anyone out, but I am sure I did. One.

Setheford Greenfield Klempner

Sports Writer

From darkroom to digital I have seen many memorable things take place at the Daily. To BGO, Molo, and Katz: we stuck together through shaky times and I’m proud to say we made it out together (just remember “dot to dot” and things will always turn out, eh?). Through the juicy and the tart, you guys remain an inspiration to me. To the sports guys past and present: oh the miles we’ve travelled! And for those outside the realm of this crazy newspaper (you know who you are), the utmost thanks for always supporting my balancing act. Finally, to John Tait and JWo: Go for the glory and you will never fail! Much Love.

Alysssa Wood

Photo Editor

For me, the Daily has been one giant love affair, the longest of my relatively short life. Sadly, we amicably parted ways yesterday after walking hand in hand for over three and a half years. Things weren’t always smooth – we had our share of turmoil. But at the end of the night, come hell or high water, we were always back together, and we always had a paper to show for it. This was, perhaps, the toughest year of our relationship, but we were able to make it through, as we always do. The only reason for our separation is that it’s now time for me to move on, but I know that wherever I go and whatever I do, the people I’ve met and the experiences we’ve shared will forever define my college experience.

After wasting a semester of my life on MSA, I decided to join the Daily’s editorial board. Doing so was one of the best decisions I’ve made during my time here at U-M, and one that I wish I had made a lot earlier. Since I showed up at 420 Maynard, I’ve been challenged intellectually, become a better writer and gotten to know some really great people. I’d like to say thanks to everyone on the editorial staff, especially Johanna and the other editors–Audrey, Jess, Zac as well as Ari – you’ve all made edit board worth my while and everyone has given me great memories. Best wishes to all, and good luck to all who follow our paths.

Chris Miller

Editorial Board member

Important debates are being played out daily on our editorial page. Anyone associated with the page – whether you are staff members, columnists or letter writers – is participating in democracy on its finest level. Please, do not rest.

I would like to recognize the wonderful people that I have had the privilege to work with during my time at the Daily. Particularly, I would like to thank the following people for their much-appreciated insight and conversation: Ari, Zac, Neal, Aubrey, Jess, Johanna and Dave. I am better off having known you all.

John Honkala

Associate Editorial Page Editor

Things always get a little rough when one’s private and professional lives are so closely tied to the same institution, but the lessons learned are invaluable. There are too many people deserving of my thanks for me to actually start listing them, but it doesn’t matter: you know who you are, especially those who came before and placed stewardship of this place in our hand. I’m often amazed we didn’t destroy it. Peace.

David Enders

Reporter, News Editor, Columnist

For me, the Daily has been one giant love affair, the longest of my relatively short life. Sadly, we amicably parted ways yesterday after walking hand in hand for over three and a half years. Things weren’t always smooth – we had our share of turmoil. But at the end of the night, come hell or high water, we were always back together, and we always had a paper to show for it. This was, perhaps, the toughest year of our relationship, but we were able to make it through, as we always do. The only reason for our separation is that it’s now time for me to move on, but I know that wherever I go and whatever I do, the people I’ve met and the experiences we’ve shared will forever define my college experience.

Lisa Koivu

Managing News Editor