A letter to our editors

On a warm, late-August afternoon, we pulled into Lake Campus, parked and trudged down the gravel path towards the lake, not entirely sure what to expect of this staff retreat. Standing in a misshapen circle around a picnic table, we cracked open boxes of pizza, navigated awkward self-introductions and began the earnest process of goal-setting for the upcoming year. This would be the first time the 2012-2013 editorial board officially convened.

Leading the charge into the fray of new multimedia endeavours, a redesigned business plan and generally high expectations were our Co-Editors-in-Chief: Scott Matthews and Sarah Welty.

From the beginning, we were well aware that Scott and Sarah had big plans for the paper. And by “beginning,” we mean weeks before the semester actually began, which is when they contacted us to let us know that our first issue would be printed before Freshman Orientation.

The two shared a model symbiotic working relationship, with Scott spearheading the business and media end and Sarah handling the week-to-week content of each print issue. Make no mistake, neither job was easy nor entirely gratifying. Perseverance and a sense of humor is required to survive each Tuesday night deadline in our poorly-ventilated office, while managing the ordered chaos that is the assembling process of each issue.  

Under the leadership of Scott and Sarah, we saw the introduction of editorial board salaries, which were sustained by another endeavour, expanded subscription sales. Under their tenure, the Davidsonian evolved beyond the traditional newspaper into a host for productive conversation. Our talkbacks gave students the opportunity to discuss ampus issues critically, sharing a vast range of experiences and formulating solutions. Our growing social media platforms brought the conversation online, where students can share and comment on campus life everyday.

As we conclude the final issue with these two at the helm as Editors-in-Chief, we wanted to make space in our own medium to acknowledge their impact. They are not just our editors; they have been our mentors and friends. Without them, our paper would not be what it is today. Week after week, they walked into the office with smiles on their faces and guided our sections even into the wee hours of the night. It would be difficult for any of us to think of a time either of them complained about their work or the late nights. Instead, their eyes always shone with a passion and enthusiasm for the paper that we all hope we can emulate going forward.

For all the times we kept you in the Davidsonian office past midnight, for all the envelope stuffing you have done (and resulting inky hands you walked away with), for the last minute content we could always count on you to write, for your leadership, for your dedication, and because we probably haven’t been saying it enough... thank you. Rest assured, you have left your mark on far more than just the plaque of past editors in the library.