Flora Milford, Op-Ed Editor
Though I’ve filled this paper with many miscellaneous thoughts, for my final ones, I am at somewhat of a loss for words. I’ll say it plainly: The Round Table is a special place.
It has been the most consistent place for me on campus–forcing me to write even when I don’t want to. But hey, the paper has to get done, and there’s no one that will do it but us. That’s why this silly paper is so special–no one is here unless they want to be. We are a community of people who care about this, because otherwise, why would we coop up in this office every Sunday until we come out with something complete?
I owe a major thank you to The Round Table for revitalizing my love for writing, something that for a long time, I feared I’d lost. I wrote my first article in my sophomore year. It was a Sunday at 2 pm, and my beautiful friend and the paper’s co-editor-in-chief Ella Diers had three hours to complete her page. She texted me in a flurry, “Did you still wanna write that feature?” For my sweet Ella, I would do anything, so I immediately locked in (and promptly forgot to text Ella, much to her distress, I’m sure.) Forty-five minutes later, I had my first article, all kudos to Ella and the writers that week who flaked on their articles last minute. Since that blessed Sunday afternoon, I have written almost weekly, and it has always been a pleasure; even in times I’ve dreaded sitting down to write–a pleasure it becomes.
The Round Table is a community. As I walk across campus, it’s thirty more hellos. It’s an excuse to say anything, even in the times I don’t think I have anything to say. It’s in your face and sometimes people get really, really upset about the things we–specifically me–have to say (#oops). It’s Sunday afternoon. It’s Tuesday evening. It’s a joke we’re all in on, that occasionally shocks the campus when we come out with some ridiculously well-reported nonsatirical news. It’s loud and obnoxious and silly and immature. But it’s comfortable and warm. When I step into our meetings, or the office, sleepy as ever and often hungover–I am transported to a place in which I am almost too at ease. I’m surrounded by my best friends, and we get to work together to create something for our community. And for ourselves. (Which are one and the same.)
I love these guys–from Shawn Gillen to Chuck McQuaid. I love every staff writer (especially when they write for me), every editor (very, very much), every reader (all 12 of you), and every article (I read them all–even the ones for sports). I especially love Cam, Zeke, and Ella, some of the paper’s beautiful editors and my best friends. I love The Round Table very much and am so grateful for my time with it–my happiest place on campus and the one I’m going to miss the most. Bye bye bye. I can’t wait to see what you become!
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