Letter from the Editor: Transformative years at UT

DANIEL DASSOW Editor-in-Chief

Editorial

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Daniel Dassow

MANAGING EDITOR: Abby Ann Ramsey

COPY CHIEF: Olivia Hayes

NEWS EDITOR: Autumn Hall

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The last four years have been completely transformative. I am in awe when I think back to 2019 and how much has happened since that time. I came to UT largely empty and I am leaving full — full of love, full of memories and full of what my mother would call a sense of poignancy.

When you are about to graduate college, the amorphous fog that was once Your Future condenses into a series of nagging questions. Who have I be- come? What do I do with my identity after tethering it to one place for four years? What have I received, other than a ticket into the professional class and an eerie sense of how little I actually know about the world?

I will put these questions on hold so that I can thank all the people who have shaped my life here.

First, I want to thank my wife, whom I met in a dining hall during our freshman year at UT. Thank you for sweetly encouraging me to take on every new role and for filling my life with love. May we find new peace in this time of change and in every place we go.

(I would also like to take this moment to thank our cat, Michelle, who has always tried her best to get between me and my computer. I will be done with all my homework soon and I can give you all the attention you demand.)

To my family, and especially my grandmother, who was the most faithful reader of my writing at the Beacon: Everything I know about being in relationship with other people I learned from you, and we are the best people to be in relationship with.

To the circle of friends who sustained us: Michael, Gracyn, Landry, Katy, Cate, Amy, Hollie, Emma, Luke, Jarrett, Camille, Jonathan, JuliAnna, Magnolia, Faezeh, Mohammad, Nishith, Lee, John, Juliette and so many more — thank you for sharing your love with us.

To the people who constitute the Departments of English and Religious Studies: You are extraordinary. I wouldn’t choose any other academic homes even if I were punished in all my next lives with eternal undergraduate-dom.

To the administrative units of this university, and particularly the Division of Enrollment Management: Thanks for keeping things interesting. My class has been both the victim of terrible historical timing and the benefactor of good managerial timing. All of us, including the staff of The Daily Beacon, work in places that are really on the rise.

In that vein: I am so thankful for Abby Ann Ramsey, who takes over as Editor-in-Chief of the Beacon today, and who is one of its most talented stewards. She is a great friend and has made this a great place to work. I look up to her in many ways and I know that the Beacon will thrive under her leadership.

Student media work is a collaborative effort of more people than I can reasonably thank here. If you have ever given your time to the Beacon, I am thankful for you. Our director Jerry Bush and our technical coordinator Austin Orr have been great advisors for the last four years.

I want to recognize by name those who have held this position in my time here: Kylie Hubbard Irvine, Gabriela Szymanowska, Aly DeMarco and Sarah Rainey. You all gave more than you ever took. We made it through.

Finally, I want to thank Knoxville for being a great place to live these last four years and for the foreseeable future. My little family and I are staying here for many reasons, but chief among them is Old North Abbey, an Anglican church with an Appalachian spirit and one of the most special places on Earth.

We thought Knoxville would only ever signify stress and fatigue to us, but it has been redeemed. God has been good to us here, and we are staying to see what else this place can teach us.

Letter from the Upcoming Editor: Serving the UT community

ABBY ANN RAMSEY Managing Editor

After spending a year as the Beacon’s Managing Editor, I am beyond excited to step into the role of Editor-in-Chief for the 202324 academic year. I cannot begin to express how meaningful The Daily Beacon has been to my college experience.

Two years ago, I ended my freshman year having only ever stepped foot in four buildings on campus. I had only ever eaten takeout food from the Student Union, never sitting at a table inside. I had been to zero football or basketball games as a student. And I had written a mere two articles for the Beacon.

It’s strange to think that I spent one whole year almost completely detached from the Beacon because of how much it has defined my time in college. Looking back on that year though, makes me even more grateful than I already am for this campus newspaper.

In my role, I’ve gotten to focus on the inner workings of the office, and attempt to bring a sense of community to our newsroom. Spending time in the office every day has shown a stark contrast to my freshman year, and I’m so thankful for all of the wonderful people that have made up the community of the Beacon.

Now, as I move into a more big-picture role, I hope the Beacon can bring that sense of community to the greater UT campus through the stories we tell and the way we connect with students. The Daily Beacon isn’t here just to write a few articles and pray someone reads them. It’s here to serve a community and to make people feel seen — the same way it made me feel seen when I felt lost on campus. Whether we’re writing a feature on your new organization or trying to convince you to start writing for us, we want you to feel like the Beacon is trying to connect with you.

A few months ago, we published a video asking people if they knew what The Daily Beacon was or if they read it. The video was not only funny and depressing but has also fueled me and other staff members to work even harder to spread the word, so that people feel connected to us and know that we’re here to serve them.

I know next year will be nothing short of challenging, but I feel so grateful that I’ve had so many wonderful people supporting me and setting examples of excellent leadership.

To Kylie Hubbard Irvine, thank you for challeng- ing me, encouraging me to be kind while standing my ground and always lending a listening ear or piece of advice when I need it — which is frequently. Thank you also to Andrew Peters for showing me what hard work looks like and serving as a constant source of support.

I’d also like to thank current Editor-in-Chief Daniel Dassow who has been a great friend and fantastic person to lead with. Daniel has left behind an incredible legacy at the Beacon, and I’m so thankful for the way he makes thoughtful decisions, leads with grace and prioritizes excellent journalism.

I feel so excited and prepared going into next year not only because of these people but because I have the pleasure of leading with Bella Hughes, the next Managing Editor. I know Bella will lead with kindness and thoughtfulness while prioritizing the success of the Beacon.

Look out for the Beacon next year on news racks, social media and at some in-person events. We’ve got a great editorial team next year, and we can’t wait to connect with you.