It's now December, and I feel that it's a good time to think about conclusions. Every journey comes to a close just as every book has a last page.
Accordingly, this week marks the end of my career as a student journalist.
I've written for assorted school newspapers for six straight years, and now it's time for me to move on.
When I met Emily Dalton Smith, editor in chief of The Spectrum during my freshmen year, she told me working for the paper was the seminal event in her college career. I won't rise through the ranks as highly as she did, but after two years with The Spectrum, I now share in her sentiment.
This is still my column, however, for another 500 words, so I figure I might as well cease waxing poetic about my experience and settle a few points.
I'd like to offer a huge "thank you" to all of my readers who, during the course of my time with The Spectrum, have given me a ton of feedback. This included some rather inventive hate mail; a special shout-out goes to you, "coreyshoocksucks@yahoo.com," whoever you are.
Thanks to Sara Paulson and Erin Shultz, the two editors who saw fit to give me this space to express my ideologies, insecurities, fears and hopes. I don't know what they were thinking, but I'm certainly glad they never caught on.
I'd also like to say that I'm sorry to the literally hundreds of people who asked me to write a column about them. I sincerely apologize, but you're just not that interesting.
In the same vein, I'd like to thank everyone who gave me ideas for columns, especially Alisa, Evan, Kathy, Attorney General John Ashcroft and, of course, President George W. Bush - you guys rock.
Before I retire "All Shoock Up" though, I think it's fitting to say something about The Spectrum.
A free press is crucial to the survival of any society. My studies in history have given me this conviction.
A tainted and compromised newspaper is like an infection that spreads to the people, while an emancipated one is like oxygen for a society.
I won't suggest that this paper is perfect, nor am I going to imply that it is on a par with The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal. However, without The Spectrum this university would suffer.
Yet there are individuals in positions of power and influence at UB who would like to silence The Spectrum. As students, we cannot allow for a closed society at our university, even if we don't read the paper or care what's going on.
A great injustice would be perpetrated against the best interests of the student body and university community if shortsighted and opportunistic individuals had their way.
Here at UB we have The Spectrum and Generation, two worthy publications that balance each other and the power of those who make policy.
Perhaps one day I'll run for office, but I doubt that I'll see things in a different way. Leadership is not about imposing one's will upon the people, but allowing the will of the people to be heard.
My life at UB has been all about spreading information. I've been an orientation aide, a reporter, an editor and a columnist. In light of that, I think the future is always open for anyone who wants to get involved.
As for me, I don't know what's next other than applying for grad school. Maybe I'll take a third major, start my own business or join the Peace Corps in Mongolia ... (if anyone has suggestions, my e-mail address is at the bottom of the column).
In the meantime, we come now to the end of this chapter, this year and this experience. I again thank everyone who made it so enjoyable for me to be a small part of UB, hate mail and all.
I miss it already.
