2008 Woodie Awards
Alumna responds to recent events
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Letters to the editor
I'm writing to share your grief and to thank you for your brave column. I was moved by it because you really hit the nail on the head when comparing the loss of the Cauldron to the death of a living being. For those of us who pulled all-nighters, missed out on parties and dates, skipped meals, turned flabby and sacrificed "friendships" just to get the paper out--and get it right--the Cauldron was worth so much more than the ink and paper it was printed on.
The Cauldron was my teacher, my love, my home (seriously, we've all slept on that futon),at times my tormenter, my battelfield, my trail-by-fire. When I flip back through my string book I can see past the headlines and typos (that make me cringe to this day)and it all becomes just one story: the story of the naive and insecure young woman whose voice grew stronger with each byline to become the kind of professional journalist who had the skills and confidence to speak truth to power all the way to the highest levels of state government.
Unlike any other entity on campus, the Cauldron gave me the space and entrusted me with the responsibilities of a professional. I am so deeply sorry that current and future students have been robbed of that same priceless opportunity I was blessed to receive.I'm almost sorrier that many on campus seem not to even realize what they've lost. The ethics-based truth-to-power style journalism Casarez taught is a rare gem compared to what we see in much of the corporate media.
Every student on campus should know how hard we fought to save their paper--their voice. Our motivation was never a personal gudge against the administration but a deeply held belief that everything we did was in the public (student) interest. The stipends our detractors love to bring up were hardly woth the effort most editors put in and the money almost always went right back to the University in the form of tuition. This was a labor of love and heartbreak is the only appropriate word to describe my reaction to this callow display of blatant authoritarianism on behalf of the VPAA.
In 20 years, no alumni will remember the name of John Hittinger. But Nicole Casarez and the Cauldron have changed lives, mine included. That fact, and the integrity of the reporters she trained is something the VPAAs of the world can never take away. Telling the truth may have cost us the paper. But at least we went down fighting. I wouldn't change a thing.
Erika McDonald
Communications Alumna
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Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Cauldron editorial staff. All other columns and opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the author.
The Cauldron was my teacher, my love, my home (seriously, we've all slept on that futon),at times my tormenter, my battelfield, my trail-by-fire. When I flip back through my string book I can see past the headlines and typos (that make me cringe to this day)and it all becomes just one story: the story of the naive and insecure young woman whose voice grew stronger with each byline to become the kind of professional journalist who had the skills and confidence to speak truth to power all the way to the highest levels of state government.
Unlike any other entity on campus, the Cauldron gave me the space and entrusted me with the responsibilities of a professional. I am so deeply sorry that current and future students have been robbed of that same priceless opportunity I was blessed to receive.I'm almost sorrier that many on campus seem not to even realize what they've lost. The ethics-based truth-to-power style journalism Casarez taught is a rare gem compared to what we see in much of the corporate media.
Every student on campus should know how hard we fought to save their paper--their voice. Our motivation was never a personal gudge against the administration but a deeply held belief that everything we did was in the public (student) interest. The stipends our detractors love to bring up were hardly woth the effort most editors put in and the money almost always went right back to the University in the form of tuition. This was a labor of love and heartbreak is the only appropriate word to describe my reaction to this callow display of blatant authoritarianism on behalf of the VPAA.
In 20 years, no alumni will remember the name of John Hittinger. But Nicole Casarez and the Cauldron have changed lives, mine included. That fact, and the integrity of the reporters she trained is something the VPAAs of the world can never take away. Telling the truth may have cost us the paper. But at least we went down fighting. I wouldn't change a thing.
Erika McDonald
Communications Alumna
-----------------------------------------------------
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Cauldron editorial staff. All other columns and opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the author.