Hey everyone, have a Great Summer!! Let’s keep in touch, XOXO.
In all honesty, I usually don’t believe it when someone tells me I’m graduating. And I generally don’t believe the fact that I’ll never be on The Oracle again.
But when it comes to saying goodbye, there is a lot of ground to cover. Especially from my massive, weekly, emotional catapult from dreading and despising The Oracle over the past three years to deciding it was one of the best decisions I made in college.
I am not a journalism major. I have never considered being a journalism major, and I don’t want to go into journalism when I graduate. Still, for some reason, ever since I got to college, I wanted to join The Oracle. Even though for the entirety of my freshman year, I couldn’t figure out how.
Until one day, during my sophomore year, The Oracle Instagram posted a picture and captioned it, “come to our GI at 8!” or something and this was at 7:50 p.m. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t see the post at that exact moment but it probably wouldn’t be in front of a vertical computer from the hours of 6:30 p.m. to 12 or 2 a.m. every Wednesday night (and yes, that would be a bad thing).
Despite the hard work, the late nights and the stress over whether or not to put the newspaper before homework, or sleep, I am indispensably thankful for my time on The Oracle. I didn’t just read what was happening on campus from afar, I got to be a small part of it. I didn’t just hear about an amazing thing that happened, I got to feature it. There are so many corners of this campus that I didn’t get to touch and so many stories we didn’t get to tell, but I am eternally grateful for what I did get to do. And not to toot my own horn but I got some killer writing samples out of it too.
But enough about me, here are my goodbyes to the lovely people that make up this little paper.
Dearest Emily, I have absolutely loved growing from the newbies on staff to the oldest people on staff with you. I will always remember when you showed up to The Oracle general interest meeting with writing samples from your previous newspaper days. At the time I thought “damn there goes my chances.” But I’m glad to say that wasn’t true. You bring so much dedication to everything you do, and you are one of the loveliest people inside and out. I am so excited to see you revamp The Oracle’s social media presence.
Someday, when you are Penn Badgely’s direct PR person, I’ll be so proud to say I got to know you, and that I’ve spent countless hours asking you whether or not a headline made sense or simple AP style questions that you’d think after three years I’d know (and I don’t).
Since we both joined there have been too many changes to count.
Speaking of which, the old Oracle office: it was orange, it was small, it was dirty. I understand that save for the agonizingly slow computers and a printer that doesn’t work — the new office is an upgrade. But I will always be nostalgic for the old office. It was stuffy but sweet. And did I mention that it was orange?
Zoe. I am simply taken aback by the way you stepped up into the Editor-In-Chief position this semester. I know it feels like a lot, but it can only go up from here. You are full of amazing ideas, I adore how the paper has been since you’ve taken the reins and I am excited to see where the paper is by the time you leave and have to write your own reflection. I know by then The Oracle will literally be yours, fully and officially revamped as the Zoracle. But my biggest wish for you right now is that you take a really, really, long and well-deserved nap. In a few years, when you are an intern for Mindy Kaling, please remember me and put me in touch — you have my number.
Alli, you never fail to impress me. You are simply everywhere on campus, or at Pho Tibet, all at once. It is inspiring to see you do amazing at all of it. I am excited to see you continue to thrive as A&E Editor, there is literally no one better suited than you. You are simply cool, wonderfully kind and know more about arts/music writing than I could ever imagine. Also thanks for driving me home on production nights, I don’t know why I live at the edge of nowhere on a lampless street but I appreciate you getting me there safely.
Kyra, there is no one I trust more than you to take over managing editor next semester. You and Zoe are going to be an unstoppable force. Ever since I left the copy-desk, AP style began to evade me, but you literally know everything (AP related or not). I don’t care about age or school year, I literally look up to you. It has been lovely getting to know you, especially since you are one of the few people I’ve met in college who knows where Schenectady is without me having to say “like, um, it’s close to Albany.”
Jeremy, features doesn’t get a lot of love, but it’s the most versatile section of The Oracle and therefore the coolest. I’m excited for you to take on the coolest section of The Oracle and make it cool again. No pressure. I’ll be the first to admit that this last semester I’ve lost all notions of the word “try,” but absolutely incredible things can be done in Features when you do try. I think you will do incredible. You also write amazing kickers and take wonderful pictures, meaning The Gunk is going to be absolutely killer next semester. But I will be absolutely damned if I visit New Paltz next semester, pick up a copy of The Oracle and read the words “Gunk Skunk.” I’m fully entrusting you to not let it happen.
To Lilly, Gabby, Remy, Kenny, Sam and Fynn, I’m actually upset that I can’t write a 4,000 word article in which I devote 100 words saying lovely things about you each. You all amaze and inspire me in your own ways. I know that you will take the paper to incredible places. I am so proud of each of you. I know there are so many articles you will write that you will truly adore and be proud of. It simply doesn’t matter if one or 1000 people read what you wrote. Congratulations to all of you for making it through this semester or year, and congratulations to Lilly and Gabby on moving on up, you truly deserve it.
Lily, again I wish I could say more.You are my favorite person from Georgia that I’ve ever met. I mean it when I say your impact on the paper has been incredible and you will be missed dearly.
To everyone on staff,
Don’t think for a moment that this little newspaper club is not lucky to have each and every one of you.
I know there’s so few of us right now. I know that sometimes it feels like we’re putting together the paper with two half-formed ideas, no good kickers, one overlooked oxford comma and the hope that it all works out, but it does always work out.
I mean one way or another, Thursday comes and there’s a stack of Oracles in every building. Must be magic the way that happens, I don’t know, I’ve successfully avoided distribution like the plague.
Whatever the case may be, I know you’re on the precipice of a great Oracle renaissance. I can’t wait to see it.
I’ll miss you all.
Love, Morgan