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So long, and thanks for all the shoes

Greg Dewar
The Commuter

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

What to write? It’s been three long years that I’ve seen my name in print at The Commuter. And three long years that I’ve spent navigating LBCC’s austere windy passageways and dimly lit warrens. I’ve had some amazing times, and I’ve had some absolutely atrocious times. This last year as Editor-In-Chief has been the most amazing time of my life! After losing my fiance, I seemed to blossom into a socialite and befriended many people on campus (an absolute 180 from my old personality type of the dark, brooding, tortured loner), though, mostly, my friends comprised those who worked for me at The Commuter. I even stopped thinking about the military and my attitude shifted to being positive and upbeat all the time. It’s amazing what a difference friends make. Or an entire Community. College.

The line between boss and friend was never blurred and no one was ever taken for granted either way across it. When we were in the office, there was a hierarchy and deadlines, and when we were out at a barbecue, I was just one of the guys. The kinship I’ve found with these people is reminiscent of what I had in the military: And the first time since that I’ve found trust and camaraderie. I let my guard down (though it was very hard at first, as Rick knows) and let them all in, for better and for worse. I love you all.

I broke every mold I could think of. I blurred the line between magazine and student newspaper. I paradigm-shifted us to hell and back and strangely enough, received very little complaints. I tried to do something new: And we didn’t win as many awards as I would have liked because of it, but brand new territory is always a gamble. We tried to give the students what they wanted. I printed every Letter To The Editor that I recieved, regardless of whether or not it was sane or even logical, save one: it was a blatant threat and libelous. I wanted the students to have a voice, and to always be encouraged to write us and express their view points. I kept us geekier than we probably should have been. Star Trek, Star Trek, Star Trek. And video games. Ad sales went through the roof and we did a 16-pager more often than anything else. We even did a couple of 20s. The amount of words and photographs we provided to LBCC was…well, just rad. It was a hell of a year for news: a black person became president while the first woman veep ran, an unmarried latino woman became a supreme court judge, our beloved Rita retired, we got a new guy, Bill, our Veep, who filled out his shoes nicely after a rocky start. We’re in the throes of a terrible depression, we just came out of a gas-price crunch. And proposition 8 was upheld. We covered cutbacks and setbacks, and new construction: Both the finishing of the library and the new Science and Technology building.

I completely rearranged the office, Jon fixed the printer so it actually prints more than once an hour, I got new desks, and created desks because I thought it was important that my core staff felt like they had a place to feel welcome to. I lobbied for people to use the ancient Mac G4, though people rarely ever did. I ran tech support for the office and kept the Macs talking, in some limited fashion, even though I had no experience with Macs beyond Warcraft II and ClarisWorks(that’s 1996). We went to three different journalism conferences this year and San Diego was amazing. I’d like to prolifically thank the ASG for providing some of the funding to go on the trip. I know you all hate us for asking the hard questions: But that’s the newspaper’s job, to keep the government on their toes. To “boo” their bad decisions and to laud them when they do well. Since you quit talking to us, we’ve been unable to report on the goings-on. I sincerely hope that Nic Bowman and Ryan will forge ahead to a new relationship and talk to each other: just keep in mind that it will be strained, and it will be because Ryan asks some hard questions.

We said the f-word I don’t know how how many times. One issue we said it many times and no one said anything. We said it once in a headline and the world was up in arms against us, it felt like. I make no excuses, we are a wretched hive of scum and villainy: Crass to the core.

Special Thanks:

Rick: My friend, you have a real talent for writing: Don’t give up, keep writing anything. By chance, have you ever thought of writing a novel?

Gary: You need to work for NASA. Just stand in the control room and find every imaginable potential flaw, you’d be such a boon to the space program. Alternatively, you could be a J-pop sensation with that voice of yours.

James: You don’t even want to be a journalist and yet you managed to break a mold with The Commuter: you brought food journalism to it on a regular basis. You also kept the office alive and full of humour, even in the middle of a crunch. Best of luck to you, I hope you achieve your dream of owning a roach coach that sells hamburgers on the cheap. I will eat there three times a day: Even if I’m not hungry. Amy: My dear sister, you hunted typos with the fervor and fire of your soul. You are one of the most opinionated and strong-willed people that I know: You would’ve made an amazing opinion editor. Spring term wasn’t the same without you. It’ll be an honor to walk beside you during graduation. You already know how I feel for the rest. Max: Wow. My little trooper. Always the eager beaver, meticulously transforming a features concept into something amazing. You’re starting out exactly where I did, I know it will carry you just as far. Just remember to love it. Strongly. Also remember that you are Ryan’s Samwise Gamgee: if he tries to canoe away from you, you jump into the water even though you can’t swim. If you drown, well, them’s the breaks! Ryan: I created a brand new position just for you, we never had a News Editor before. You wrote almost one news story a day, enough to be front page of any weekly. I am so proud of you for all your hard work and for getting the position of Editor-In-Chief! I know you will treat my baby well. I feel like I should stand on pride rock with you and point off over the Savannah and say: “Someday, son, all of this will be yours…” I wish you all the best. Becca: You’re basically one of the guys. I transferred you under Jon’s command and between the three of us we made an award-winning top notch A-1 Steak Sauce website. Have a lemon tart. Jon: You’re the one I’ve known the longest and have spent the least amount of time getting to know. I hope we’ll stay in touch and I’ll get to know you better in the future. Thank you for all of your hard work on the website and over-complicated evil plots that (thankfully) no one ever had the wherewithall to actually put into motion. Frank (The Tank) Warren: you were always good for a priceless laugh and you pushed so hard to increase our advertising budget. Good luck with that baby! John Rehley: For putting up with so many mistakes and late nights.

Rob: You’re just one of those people with the perfectly positive attitude at all times. Quick to smile and laugh: you always existed behind The Commuter’s framework as that necessary moral guidepost. You’ve been an epic friend and a supportive adviser both personally and professionally: Thank you.

And Eve: You’ve grown so much as a person and an editor, you’ll do fine next year. To Ramon in the dishroom: Good luck, buddy. You gave me a job when no one else would. I’m sorry about what happened to you. Say “hi” to Billy for me! And to all the dishwashers, you may work an unappreciated job while the culinary students treat you like dirt, but just keep in mind that some day…they’ll be serving you. Ronny, Joey, Jarryd, Amy, and Denise: you’re all awesome. Jan from catering: you’re awesome as well, thanks for giving me my only prep. cook experience. Chef Katy, well, you’re probably the happiest person I’ve ever met. Whatever secret you have, you’ll have to share. Chef John, you were always supportive. Chef Scott, you understood what it was like to be at the bottom of the food chain as a dishwasher. And Scottie, you throw some awesome barbecues. Karen, you were always a hoot and a smile. Thanks to my two favorite instructors for enhancing my love of the English language: Robin Havenick and Jane White. Both of you have written me letters of recommendation and picked me out of a crowd after not seeing me for years. Both of you have been there for me when I really needed someone. I’d also like to thank Michelle Wilson for being so kick-ass! And Dana Emerson for being such a riot, I regret that I never took a class with you!

Thanks to Catherine at the math help desk. Mike Stoors, Hollis Duncan, Nicole (I can never remember your last name, but I had you for Math 95), Theo, and Roger Maurer. Between all of you I managed to overcome my math “albatross” and succeed by graduating LBCC.

I’d like to thank everyone in the Financial Aid department for giving me chances and helping me to fund my schooling: Don’t be afraid to stop in and talk to them, they do a world of good. Everyone at the Courtyard Cafe: thank you for all the burgers. And I mean all the burgers. I’d also like to take this time to thank both of my Volvos: my stalwart companions who got me through all these years. I loved you both beyond words and breath, and I totaled you both (much like most of the women I’ve been with). This wasn’t a favorites contest. There are simply too many people who have touched my life at LBCC to thank you all, as it stands, this probably took up an entire page to itself. and trying to find a new way of life. It scares me a little, but not as much as ghosts. I’ll never forget any of you or any of…this… I suppose that’s it. I talked myself up, I gave my thanks, I gave my goodbyes. It’s all over now, but the crying. It’s hard not to get teary-eyed as this, my final blog for The Commuter comes to a close.

1-2-3-4! UNITED STATES AIR FORCE!

Are you driving? NO! I’M WALKEN! CHRISTOPHER WALKEN! A-huh, a-huh, a-huh.

Au revoir!

-Gregory

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