Editor in Chief Woods says last goodbye

By Nicole Woods
Collegian Staff
April 26, 2006

Anyone who was at the media formal has already heard most of the following sentiments from the speech I gave there. I tried to think of another way to say goodbye, but my feelings are real, so I couldn’t make something up. Plus, as everyone on the Collegian staff knows, I like to say the same things over and over.

I was not a happy camper during my freshman year at La Salle, which is quite a literal description because I hated living in the dorms. I hated going to the bathroom in the middle of the night because there would inevitably be strange boys in the hallway who teased me for wearing a clay facemask. I hated staring at a blank computer screen with a bad case of writers’ block for hours on end because I was distracted by the noise around me. I hated trying to button my pants after eating plates of pasta every night when I couldn’t find anything else appetizing at the B&G.

I was the perfect example of one of the points made against resident freshmen having cars on campus, because I always drove away as soon as my classes were over. I admit that it was partly my own fault that I never got into the swing of things, because I didn’t ever bite the bullet and force myself to get used to dorm life. But, you also have to take into consideration that I lived in Neumann, and people really are weird down there.

Despite my social awkwardness, I have always enjoyed and appreciated my educational experience at La Salle (with the exception of the very beginning of my college career, when I had to take public speaking, FYO and my sole required math course all in one semester). How couldn’t I, learning from literature aficionados like John Seydow and Kevin Grauke, media masters like Bill Wine and Duane Swierczynski, and free-spirited thinkers like Cornelia Tsakiridou and Janine Mariscotti?

I had resigned myself to the fact that I loved the academic side of college, but I just wasn’t cut out for the lifestyle. I thought of school as a job, and punched in and out after my classes. This approach further heightened my disconnectedness from the campus and made me feel ostracized. I began to resent the loudmouths in class who had nothing to say.

Becoming involved with the Collegian saved my college experience. Although I had kept away from the intimidating mobs at activities fairs, I did have the confidence to approach my English professor, Dr. Claire Busse, in the comfort of the classroom. She directed me to one of my classmates, Tom Namako, who was the Collegian commentary editor at the time. I was completely surprised by how readily he welcomed me onto the writing staff. I began to realize that there was a place of acceptance for me at La Salle, and it was located in the Union basement.

Even the Collegian office aesthetics can’t (literally or figuratively) dampen the enthusiasm of the people who work for countless hours within its cinderblock walls. Sincere dedication and a common passion for writing and reporting the news bond the extremely diverse cast of characters on staff. Their encouragement and support have truly changed the course of my life and career.

Although it may seem paradoxical that I found happiness at La Salle by writing for and about the same people from whom I had felt alienated, the Collegian allowed me to see a whole other dimension of La Salle. Writing for the Collegian gave me a different perspective of the campus, which revealed that I had been blinded to its many positive aspects. I discovered that my prior judgments of my fellow students had been generalizations that actually only applied to a small group of individuals. I began to meet people who are genuinely caring, creative, intelligent, interesting, talented, generous, funny, passionate, courageous, loyal and supportive. I regained my confidence and slowly changed from an observing outsider to an active participant on campus.

I was extremely honored and surprised when Libby McLaren and Denise Maher approached me after our Fundamentals of Journalism class at the end of my sophomore year and asked me to be the Collegian Listings Editor the following year. I felt validated by their recognition, which gave me the extra push to become fully immersed in the Collegian culture.

I was somewhat intimidated after experiencing my first late Tuesday night helping put the paper together. However, soon I was hooked—and it wasn’t until this year that I truly realized the meaning of “late.”

Four years ago, I never would have thought that I’d be able to head the staff of one of the largest student organizations on campus. I am eternally grateful for the invaluable experience.

I have been continually amazed that we manage to turn around 28 pages of high-quality content every week. Although I’ve never been a fan of group work in class, this year I witnessed the power wielded by a group of dedicated people working together toward a common goal. I finally understood a mathematical formula when I realized that the sum of the whole really is greater than its parts. I marveled at the thought of so many people giving up their free time to toil endlessly without the incentive of academic credit or monetary compensation.

It would be impossible for the Collegian to function without the full cooperation of each of its members, so I want to thank Lou Perseghin, Tracey Widgins-Lewis, Jen Colletta, Joe Pelone, Paul Tsikitas, Pat Hogan, Drew Lazor, Frank Visco, Drew Stephan, Anthony Chwastyk, Mark Costello, Gwen Tuxbury, Suzanne Guerin, Katie Williams, Colleen Mullarkey and Daniel Sandiford.

Special thanks to Lucian Tucker, for creating our sophisticated website; and Dr. Cicala, for assiduously working with us to get the Collegian on-line and functioning at a high level.

I also thank our adviser, Prof. Robert O’Brien, for wisely guiding us through a year of change and accomplishment.

Last, but not least, Ms. Koehler, my right-hand woman, you know that this thing would have fallen apart and we’d probably be broke right now if it wasn’t for your wondrous organizational abilities and meticulous attention to detail. Thanks for reminding me to keep my head screwed on and letting me sleep on your floor Tuesday nights. I couldn’t leave the paper in the hands of a more talented, experienced and capable leader.

Goodbye, and good luck!

woodsn1@lasalle.edu