One final thought

There’s a tradition in the world of journalism of putting a –30– at the end of one’s work. It’s called a thirty- dash, and it signals “the end.”

With this edition of The Colonnade, I officially put my thirty-dash on seven years as adviser. I do so with mixed emotions and much appreciation for all The Colonnade has brought to my life.

First, I’m not leaving GC&SU – I’m just taking on more duties in the public relations curriculum, in the mass communication (no S) program. Some folks worried I was leaving for good. I’m not – not now, at least.

But advisers, like milk, have a shelf life. As one administrator put it, you know when it’s time to leave. And it’s time.

I leave Ryan Schomber (who has been re-elected as editor) and The Colonnade staff in the capable hands of Richard Daigle. Richard may not appreciate Rich’s taste in music as much as I do, but he will bring you to a new level of excellence. And I will be applauding you, now and always, from my place in the cheap seats. I can cheer lots louder now that I’m no longer in the press box.

Before I go, I need to share with you my favorite memories of The Colonnade since fall, 1996. Meaningless to most of you, I know, but it means something for me to be able to acknowledge this.

*Thanks to Mary Jean Land, Bernie Patterson, David Evans, Rosemary DePaolo and especially Quintus Sibley, for letting the student press be the student press.
*Thanks Val for your help this year!
*Georgia College Press Association. We’re up there again. Way to go, especially to Kim and Elizabeth.
*Of all the issues you’ve done, I’m proudest of the Sept. 11 issue and the one-year Sept. 11 anniversary issue. Well done.
*For the jazz band tribute and “The Revolution in Milledgeville.” Thanks for doing those issues my way,
*The first Colonnade marriage was Jill Davis and Payton Towns, and I’ll never forget their loving response when my Mom died — or their recipe for Rotel Dip.
*Uncle Kenny and Joy Eady…forever (happy birthday, Joy).
*Betsy Butler and her crocheted snowflakes (and the lasagna dinner when I had my gallbladder out),
*Ben Deitch. Rest in peace.
*Burn your stress, Yeah, right. Not enough matches in the world.
*Four play and the sex column.
*Brian Martin and The Litterbox.
*The inauguration issue in 1998. They said it couldn’t be done. Thanks to Bev, Payton, Jill, Tonya, Julie and Virgil, it was done — well done. *Misty’s poetry on my 40th birthday. I still have the tombstone and the ad from the paper.
*Ann and Joffery at Vera Wang. And do you want me to bring this phone down here?
*Joffery, Ryan, Hill, Semple and Laura outside Emeril’s in New Orleans. Too bad the pic didn’t come out.
*Josh, I claim you with all my heart and soul.
*Julie and Will and table talk every Thursday AND Friday morning. Nick Roberts and the Nuwabians. And Kansas City. And Lafayette. And New York, And to quote Julie’s brother…whoa!
*Jen Hill “Wasting away in F’in Milledgeville” and the Fins song. 3 a.m.,1999 BTS issue. (William Gleaton, present and accounted for.) *Jason, the gang. BREAK! and the tornado. Enough said, (But we kicked Berry’s butt that year, didn’t we?)
*Pacie Diamond, girl reporter. My sister.
*Roses from Joy cause she knows I love them,
*National Fletch Day,
*What’s in a name? Spurs and Joyous and Lilo and the photo girl and Big JT and E-cone and PD and Vick and the Rschomber. From the GSchomber,
*NYC, March 2003 – Canal Street shopping and a pick-up game. (I love ya, Ryan and Rich, my two sons.)

To my friends and family, thanks for listening to me complain all this time.

To all the practicum students, too many to mention, and the staffers who have made the paper what it is, THANK you for knowing how important this is to your portfolio.

And to ALL my editors –
Misty Thigpen
Jodie Erin McNulty
Beverly McFadden
Julie Harrell
Jennifer Hill
Jason Peterson
Joffery Blair
Ann Dyar Queen
and Ryan Schomber

I say thank you for all you’ve taught me, as a journalist and as a human being. My world is richer because of our time together. I will never forget the impact you’ve made on my life. I will always be thankful to have passed this way with you. I remain your strongest supporter and biggest fan.
–30–.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 25 2003. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry