Sending off our Seniors

By: Veronika Turner

Dear Readers,

Alas, the day has come that I am graduating, stepping down from my position as lead layout designer of the Exponent, and passing the torch on to the next victim. It has been a memorable year designing the newspaper every Wednesday night while enjoying my microwaved ramen, arguing about whether Bulgarian landmines should go in the box text or not and getting to know all the lovely folks at theExponent. 

I’d like to think I’ve come a long way since the days of stress-induced migraines on production nights, violently vomiting in the dingy third floor bathroom stalls and scaring everyone around me. Either my body finally got it together or I’ve simply gotten used to working very quickly. During my time here I’ve become a faster designer, improved my communication skills and had several good laughs along the way. 

Leaving MSU will be bitter-sweet, but I’m excited for the life ahead of me. I will be graduating with a BFA in graphic design and a minor in German. Over the summer I will remain at my internship designing websites for local businesses, and will get cracking on a small side hustle creating fancy stationery with my friend. As for what the future holds, I’m hoping to move somewhere where I can learn how to sail, enjoy life and find a rich man in Dubai. I’m just kidding about that last part... or am I?

Ascending to Valhalla, Veronika Turner

By Grace Larsen

Dear Readers,

When I applied for “any available writing position” at the Exponent at the beginning of my junior year, I definitely didn’t know the extent of all that I was signing myself up for. I sat in my interview in the 110 degrees Fahrenheit back office of the newsroom and sweat through my business-casual blouse, nervous that I wouldn’t score a position on the staff, and was beyond overjoyed when I heard back from last year’s editor-in-chief, Caleb Rux, that I had done well and that they had room for me in the news section. I later learned that I looked so nervous during the interview that Caleb and Dylan Vogel, our retired culture editor, both thought I was going to puke or pass out, so they decided to email me mere minutes after I left the room telling me I got the job, as to alleviate any more pain. 

From my first Monday all-staff meeting with 25 of us crammed into the office (pre-COVID-19 times, obviously,) I was hooked on the environment of the Exponent. I loved the honest feedback I would receive on my writing from editors and other writers alike, I enjoyed seeing what graphics and images had been placed with my piece in the design process and I always left the meetings sad that they had come to a close and excited for the next week (this may be my overly social personality poking through). All this being said, it was a no brainer that when my editor for the news section, Shelby Morris, graduated in the fall of 2019 and I was offered the position, I jumped on it. At the end of the spring semester, I was elected as Editor-in-Chief for this past academic year and it was without a doubt my proudest accomplishment to date. I chose Gabe Barnard (your incoming Editor!) as my managing editor, and we set out on a summer of to-do lists with 45 items on them, hiring writers over Webex while I was sitting in my hometown Municipal Center during a power outage and planning out the first edition of the fall while FaceTiming to show off our pooches.

This year has been nothing short of wonderful. From spending the first few weeks as both the editor-in-chief and sports editor, to interviewing presidential candidate Jo Jorgenson and current U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, to attending the press conference for the hiring of Bobcat football’s new head coach, Brent Vigen, I have both enjoyed and learned from every moment in this position. My interviewing skills have much improved, I have navigated hiring a strong and ethical staff and trained them into their respective positions and I have really grown in my attention to detail, which is so critical on production nights and in working with tight deadlines. I have loved using the school newspaper to provide a voice to local organizations and school clubs and to highlight persons and groups that are a part of our community and deserve to be represented and heard. 

To this year’s fantastic editorial staff: thank you, and I love you all so much more than you know. Quincy and Lauren: thank you for dedicating your fall semesters to our staff. Quincy- your quippy commentary and unique box texts entries are forever appreciated. Lauren- although we couldn’t print many of your R-rated headline suggestions, we all appreciated the laughs on Wednesday nights. Taryn- thank you for always lighting up the office with your smile and laugh and for cheering me on while I make countless scans on Wednesdays. Abby- your suspicious off-brand popcorn, affinity for cheap decor and dubious spirit make you such a hoot, and I am so fond of your wild sense of humor. Jaxson- though we were besties far before working together, I still very much appreciated your flexibility in changing desks mid-year and your willingness to step in when needed. Meghan- your vegetarian substitutions and affinity for Colter Wall only add to the wonderful bubliness of your personality that we have all come to love this spring. Veronika- I wish you luck in your ascension to Valhalla. Thank you for your dedication to a speedy layout process on production nights, even in the face of near death by migraine. I will never forget the night you spent an hour asleep on the pink futon amidst the chaos of production. And Chris- I am so appreciative of your free chess lessons, despite the fact that you have annihilated me in every single game. You have grown so much in your role this year and I am so proud of you. 

Gabe and Phoebe- best of luck this coming year! You are both capable, intelligent, gentle and kind and I know you will lead well and with great attention to detail in your time as editor-in-chief and managing editor. Phoebe- give Butters the corgi a pat for me whenever you remember.

A last thank you to Bill Lamberty, our beloved staff advisor. You have gone above and beyond this year and have served us all so well. Your commentary on articles, added humor on Monday nights during our countless icebreakers, affinity for baseball and willingness to support the editorial staff at the drop of a hat have made such a strong impact on all of us. Thank you for all that you do.

What a great run, guys. I’ll miss spending an ungodly number of hours with you all on Wednesday nights and really getting into our crazy spirits some time after 11 p.m., going out on Monday nights to play (and often lose) trivia at the Taproom, dangling our torsos out of the windows on the third floor of the SUB while overheating to death in the office and the zillions of laughs we have all shared. You have truly made this an unforgettable ride, and one that I will certainly never forget. 

With all my love & candle expertise,

Grace Larsen

Dear Readers,

I first started writing at the Exponent after my friend and past Sports & Outdoors editor, Lauren Chavez, asked if I’d be interested in writing for her section last fall. As a rock climber, snowboarder, mountain biker, alpinist, public lands activist, Subaru owner, man-bunned dirt-bag and writing major, I thought it might be a good fit.

My first article was about last year’s Rut Run and the new, socially distant, individual format. I interviewed a couple of friends and students who decided to participate and typed out a thrilling adventure of death-defying speed and undaunted community support — finishing what may have been (tragically) my favorite article I’ve ever written.

Every article since, I tried to capture the same level of excitement and interest—and failed. No story seemed to carry the same energy and pull me through the whole article like the first one did. After writing over thirty proceeding articles and a handful of features, I’ve learned one lesson (and no, that lesson was not when to properly use ‘whom’; nor did four years of higher education teach me this, but I digress). Nothing beats a first. My first article, first feature, first press-pass and first COVID-19 basketball game are all shining moments in my memory, but the best part of this job (if you can even call it that; I prefer the phrase “overpaid hobby”) was getting the chance to write each story for the first time each week. 

As I sit here writing my last words for the Exponent, I feel like I can finally say I beat my first article. I don’t know exactly when I beat it (probably in my ski bum stimulus package Excrement story) but, more importantly, I know I’m going to beat it again. And although it won’t be my first time, it certainly won’t be the last.

Catch me outside, 

Beau Baxter