Two weeks into the academic year the world changed forever.
Terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners the morning of Sept. 11, guiding them into both towers of the World Trade Center and into the Pentagon. Thousands died in what was the worst terrorist attack against the United States ever.
The Free Press staff came together early the next day to decide how to cover the tragedy through the eyes of the USM community.
We had put out just two editions up to that point. Most of the staff was brand new. Some of the writers had never even written a news story before.
But somehow we were able to bring you stories that really mattered.
We wrote about students and staff who were directly affected. We looked at the safety of USM’s international students. We covered how to break the news to children and what would happen to USM students if there was a draft.
All the while we tried to keep an eye on what else was happening on campus.
Soon, our attention was redirected following the printing of a controversial “Question of the Week,” which asked students what they thought of fraternities and sororities. The students we asked responded negatively and the Greek community was outraged.
I had almost a dozen angry fraternity and sorority members in my office in hours.
Later that week, thousands of copies of The Free Press disappeared from the stands.
The following Monday we featured a story about a sorority that had been accused of hazing its pledges. Again, soon after they were delivered, all the papers disappeared from the Gorham campus, and we caught people in the act of emptying the bins on the Portland campus.
It was the first time this year The Free Press made headlines. But not the last.
The situation brought about a meeting between The Free Press staff and leaders of the Greek community. We met and we talked and we even laughed a little. A situation that could have created enemies instead created a little understanding.
After the winter break our attention turned to other issues students really care about. We told you how several intruders were found in students’ dorm rooms. We tried to examine campus security to see what went wrong and talked to students about how they felt. We asked why there isn’t more front desk coverage and I shared my views in my weekly editorials.
Then, everyone’s focus turned to the University’s plan to increase parking fees. Throughout the semester we covered the plan and the proposed parking garage. Then, we heard about the plan to increase the Student Activity Fee. And the printing fee. Most of you were upset.
Recently, in the middle of trying to cover serious concerns that students of color are often victims of racism and ignorance, we found ourselves caught up in a political debate with the Student Senate.
Just two weeks before the Senate elections we found out the Senate was trying to dissolve the Student Communications Board and take over direct financial control of The Free Press and WMPG. I was soon transformed into a politician instead of a journalist.
My staff campaigned on election day to help educate voters who hadn’t ever heard of the SCB. Even now, we find ourselves in the midst of a messy political situation that is really a waste of everybody’s time.
I’d be lying if I said this year was great for The Free Press. It’s been a pain in the ass.
But through it all we did our job. Even when the paper was the center of controversy, we didn’t stop reporting the news.
I thank my staff for their hard work. And I thank the readers for caring enough about their community to educate themselves. I even thank our enemies. Your criticism helped make us stronger. You helped students to see that even if they don’t like everything that’s in these pages, the campus is better off with a free Free Press than without one.
And finally, I thank the University for giving a troublemaker like me the opportunity to run a newspaper for a year.
Out with the old
Just in case I haven’t made it clear, this is our last issue of the year and my last issue as editor.
My replacement will be Elise Adams, the woman who brought a sports section back to The Free Press. If she can do that, she can do anything.
Though she’s only been at the paper for a semester, I knew immediately Elise had what it takes to run a paper.
She is smart. A good writer. Organized. Humble. And a Red Sox fan, so we know she can deal with disaster.
Elise has been in the publishing business since middle school when she started a monthly newsletter. She spent the next six years putting together the small publication every month and eventually was able to attract a few advertisers and about 20 subscribers. She’s quite a person.
She also has a strong background in business, which means she will likely do a better job handling the paper’s finances than I have.
Elise will spend the summer interning at WMTW News Radio, working under some of the strongest journalists in the state. I have no doubt she will maintain the same high standards that have turned The Free Press into one of the best three college weeklies in New England.
Good luck and goodbye.