Op-Ed
A Candle-Lighting Ceremony
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I’ll be the first to admit it. I slacked off. Instead of writing the traditional, post-Editor-in-Chief-behind-the-scenes-look-into-University-life column, I traded the proverbial typewriter for daytime drinking at CTB, spontaneous 2 a.m. road trips (siiccck!!!) and more-than-slightly-embarrassing appearances in senior prom promotional dance videos.
Nevertheless, with the final chapter in my collegiate career about to come to a screeching halt, I felt compelled to resurrect my old Daze column if nothing more than to provide some introspection into a lifestyle that only a handful of people experience.
For a good chunk of the time, being an editor at The Sun is analogous to babysitting a spoiled first-born child, wrestling a 20-foot great white shark while blindfolded or slowly sinking into a black hole. Missed assignments, botched prelims, fractured relationships, fractured limbs, caffeine addiction and copious amounts of City Bucks spent at Shortstop Deli are just some of the side effects of trying to put out a newspaper every night by 1:30 a.m. without incurring the wrath of Schroeder — or, even more terrifyingly … the business department.
And yet, ask anyone who has stumbled into 139 W. State Street and they’ll tell you the same thing: they’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’d even go so far as to say that The Sun is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The rollercoaster that every new morning brings; the sense of communal pride when you watch the sea of faces in Libe Café transfixed to something that you helped create; that indescribable feeling of satisfaction that you are part of something much bigger than the test you neglected to study for the night before in order to finish a story — it’s irreplaceable.
As you might expect, working 40-plus hour weeks while balancing a social life and some semblance of an academic career will cause anyone to do some pretty outrageous things. Some excerpts from the past couple of years:
Fooling everyone into believing Dino’s was actually ranked the number one “Wildest Bar in America” for the joke Halloween issue.
Sports Editor Emeritus Josh Perlin and yours truly dropping mad quid on an outdoor basketball hoop for the office, spending an entire week assembling it only to have it sit outside for eternity because in our delusional quest to recreate Rucker Park in Ithaca, we neglected to think about all the glass windows and parked cars nearby.
Former Photo Editor Rebecca Thomas making the 6-hour journey in the car to Harvard for the annual journalism conference — only to sleep through the entire thing.
Rebecca Shoval, Rebecca Weiss, Matt Hintsa and I planning and executing a delegation to China to search for a mysterious Science Society of China with alleged ties to Cornell and to spread the Gospel of The Cornell Daily Sun — all without “disappearing.”
Former Managing editor Mike Morisy unable to pass the Arts and Sciences language requirement, in large part due to Sun commitments, and being forced to attend Gallaudet University (a school for the deaf) over the summer in order to receive his diploma. Mike hears perfectly, despite what he might tell you.
Former business manager Eric Bernbaum allegedly using his office as a central meeting location for an internationally notorious drug cartel. Former EIC Jonny Lieberman learning that using the word “allegedly” doesn’t protect him from libel. Crap.
At the risk of making this column sound like a bar mitzvah candle-lighting ceremony, I don’t think I could have made it without the guidance and encouragement of a number of people. So here goes:
Rebecca Shoval, I still remember sitting in the corner office the day after elections with you, confused, utterly petrified and frantically asking you over and over again, “What do I do?” Yet somehow, we managed to keep the ship from sinking for a whole year and get a few things done on the side. You managed the newsroom better than anyone could, and I know that when I browse through the old Sun archives in 50 years, I’ll never forget what a tremendous duo we made.
Whether sharing a pitcher at J. O’s or helping me finish sentences while simultaneously serving as a surrogate life coach, Olivia Oran, your smile and upbeat demeanor are infectious. I will always appreciate your honesty — however blunt — and eternal thanks for insisting on editing phrases like “that’s just the tip of the iceberg” out of my editorials.
Noah Grynberg, Sarah Singer and David Wittenberg: I couldn’t think of three better people to take the reins. Keep making the old guard proud. Chris Barnes, the work that you and the rest of the web staff do behind the scenes that is truly superhuman and inspirational. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all the sacrifices that you, Julie, Scott and Mike have made for The Sun over the past year.
Carlos Maycotte and Mike Morisy, you guys were my older brothers on The Sun. And like all good older brothers, thank you for teaching me the secret to creating a professional newsroom environment: 30 racks, tequila and massive games of inter-section flip cup. As one of very few people who could seamlessly balance drunken debauchery with legitimacy, Kyle “Revlon” Sheahen, you set the bar at The Sun for writing and reporting and encouraged me to always keep my head up.
Erica Fink and Erica Temel, you not only showed this clueless associate arts editor how to navigate Day Hall and helped me find my voice as a writer, but you never hesitated to take time away from your professional lives to offer guidance. You saw promise in silly columns about Laguna Beach and leadership potential in a rookie journalist.
Whether kicking it backstage with Franz Ferdinand or posing with nothing but newspapers to promote a Daze feature, Elliot Singer, you taught me how to stay relaxed and laid back even when things weren’t looking so hot. Rebecca Thomas, thanks for not releasing those incriminating photographs to IvyGate and for never hesitating to bring me back to reality. Though I’m still mad that you never let me use The Sun credit card at the bars, Eric Bernbaum, your dedication and professionalism helped the business staff, an understaffed and underappreciated part of the paper, grow enormously. Logan Bromer and Tracy Zhang, you tricked me into running for associate arts editor but in the end it was worth it. Sammy Perlmutter and Rebecca Weiss: maybe it’s because the three of us hail from California or maybe it’s because we all know how grueling it can be to manage the most underappreciated section of The Sun, but you guys really are like family to me. Without question, you took the arts section to new heights, outshone Elliot and me and have become legendary role models for Julie, Peter and generations upon generations of arts editors to come.
ZZ, Carol and Marvin, thanks for the endless snacks, Guitar Hero and putting up with all the office antics. Lance “I’m Good” Williams, Harrison “Winning at All Costs” Sanford, Mike “Quick Fix” Mix, Josh “Pearly Gates” Perlin and Cory “I’m Finally In Control” Bennett: good looks continuing the tradition of keeping the sports section fratty. Recounting weekend escapades with you guys always alleviated stressful situations, especially on Sunday nights when the world seemed to be coming to an end. Not so secretly, I wish I could have worked for you guys.
Psi: Despite all the unattended mixers, chapters, and house dinners you have always been by my side. Without your continuous support and constructive criticism, I would never have found my place at Cornell. You can’t put out the fire.
To Mom, Dad and Michael: Thank you for unconditionally supporting my decision to choose The Sun over schoolwork and for always pushing my limits as a writer. You are a never-ending source of inspiration.
For all the seniors, all the loyal Sun readers, all my friends throughout the past four years — it’s that time when the word “last” seems to pop up in conversation with a frightening frequency. But it’s not about “last,” it’s about next. So here’s to bigger things, building new memories and creating new adventures. Play to win.
Jonny Lieberman is The Sun’s former editor in chief. Jonny, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, can be contacted at jdl38@cornell.edu