DU Clarion [www.duclarion.com]
June 5, 2019 Volume 126 Issue 9
Weather Wed: rainy, 75° Thurs: cloudy, 78° Fri: rainy, 78° Sat: sunny, 83° Sun: rainy, 67° Mon: cloudy, 73° Tues: cloudy, 72°
LFTE: Editor-in-Chief Taryn Allen reflects on her four years
Photo courtesy of Aliza Lee Taryn Allen | Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
I
t feels surreal to sit and write this letter after four years of dedication to the Clarion. However, with graduation around the corner, I am officially stepping down as Editor-in-Chief; I will walk away with incredible memories, countless new skills and many titles on my resume (I’m told “Editor-in-Chief” is sure to land me a job, so we’ll see if that comes to fruition). However, when I think back on my time with the student newspaper, I will think about the people, so many to whom I owe incredible thanks. To Connor, Meg, Madeline
and Monica: As my first editors, thank you for easing me into the world of journalism. I vividly remember my first day of college, also my first day of the Clarion, packed into the now-demolished Driscoll Underground with the wonderful community you had built. Connor, you didn’t know it at the time, but that first meeting, I looked up at you as Editor-in-Chief with awe and intimidation and thought, “Wow, maybe that could be me someday.” To Sydney: I’m endlessly thankful I dragged you to a meeting with me so we could
both enjoy and endure years of the Clarion together. I’m sorry that serving as Business Manager probably took years off your life. And to Madison, my fellow Copy Editor: Thank you for enduring printer failures and AP Style changes and office gossip across the table from me. You were incredibly missed this year. To Jillian and Kellsie: I hope you know how much I looked up to you during your time in Clarion leadership. Your ability to create a professional yet extremely fun and tight-knit community was impressive and inspiring; thank you for being such wonderful human beings. To John and Ryan: I could write pages to you both. Thank you, first and foremost, for years of friendship that I’m excited to continue in the future. Thank you, secondly, for your incredible Clarion leadership. You did great things for the paper, and I’m still in awe of how much faith you had in me, from day one, to fill your shoes. It was an honor to take the reins from
you, and I hope I’ve made you proud. To Monica, my love: You were there from the beginning, from my first day; if only I had realized it at the time. Nevertheless, I’m infinitely thankful the Clarion (and Ryan, of course) brought us together. You were there to edit my first story and there to vote for me years later as Editor-in-Chief, and you’ve provided constant support throughout everything. Thank you, as always, for such easy love. I’m truly the luckiest. To Grace, my partner during this hectic year: Thank you; I cannot imagine a better Executive Editor to have worked alongside me. Despite your dedication to so many other jobs and organizations and causes and people, you always made time for the Clarion. I am constantly inspired by your commitment not just to journalism but to reporting that does good in the world. I can’t wait to see what your future holds. CONTINUED ON PG 5
LFTE: Executive Editor Grace Carson signs off Grace Carson | Executive Editor Emeritus
W
hen I first stepped into a Clarion meeting four years ago, I was terrified. In fact, I was so terrified that I only wrote one story (probably one of the only lifestyle pieces I’ve ever written…) and didn’t return to the Clarion for an entire year. In my mind, everyone was so much more competent than I was as a writer, and I would not measure up. I remember watching the editors at the time, Connor W. Davis and Meg McIntyre, with such intense admiration. I thought they were the coolest people on campus. I couldn’t even imagine that I would one day be standing in their place. But that’s who the Clarion helped make me. A year after my first meeting, I gained the courage to apply for the Opinions Editor position for my sophomore year. I was shocked when I found out I got the position and graciously accepted the chance to learn under editors Jillian Queri and Kelsie Brannen. It was that year as Opinions Editor that my voice began to form and my confidence began to grow. That
year was tough on campus, for many reasons. Our “free speech wall” was defaced with messages of racial hate, and affinity groups’ student demands were altered with racist messages. That year was also monumental in that it was the first year at DU that I witnessed students rise up and fight for their safety and equality on campus. As a reporter, I got to follow students of color along as they led the way to advocate for themselves and their classmates. In doing so, I’ve made meaningful connections and friendships on campus and had a major part in documenting the history and change that was made. I made it my mission during the rest of my time at the Clarion as Opinions Editor, Staff Writer and Executive Editor to uplift the voices on campus that are least heard. I got to write about the struggles students of color face at this predominantly white institution, to expose hate incidents that have occured on campus, to highlight the struggle of Native students in academia and at DU and to uplift the voices of the most marginalized on campus. In doing this, I have created my
own voice and power. I owe the Clarion as being a major part of that and the bravery of the students who were willing to share their own stories and inspire people like me to do the same. I am incredibly honored to have served the Clarion Grace Carson | Clarion
during my time at DU, especially as this last year as Executive Editor, and I have a lot of people to thank. CONTINUED ON PG 5