McElroy 113: A little-known place where we can get together...
I thought that after having endured two years of 15-hour productions twice a week, I would be ready to leave The Heights. On the nights when the pages were piled up on my desk, a certain editor was breathing down my neck, and I had a paper due the next day, it seemed like the end of my term would never arrive. I couldn't wait to hand off my final page and end my responsibilities to the newspaper that had taken so much of my time, sleep, and GPA.
On my last production night as copy editor, the pages were waiting, the editors were nagging, and the deadline for my paper was looming; but I found myself clinging to my red pen and holding onto the last page for as long as possible.
I can't explain it; nor can I explain many things that happen at The Heights. I can't explain why after production ends, the few editors remaining at 3 a.m. often can't bring themselves to leave the office. I can't explain why spontaneous dance parties erupt in the middle of production and nobody seems to have a problem with it. I also can't explain why a group of over 30 people who can often get on each other's nerves working in such close quarters for outrageous hours and no pay keep coming back, never losing their dedication or their sanity.
The Heights has introduced me to some of the most intelligent, interesting, and driven people at Boston College. I have formed some of the closest bonds with people I probably would have never even known if it weren't for this newspaper. The friendships formed within 113 McElroy are of a special kind. There is no other place quite like The Heights office, where 37 people put everything on hold to produce something truly remarkable twice a week. The stress of the task clearly takes its toll, but it also brings people together like nothing else can.
Every member of the board, especially the special bunch in the copy corner of the office, made 15 hours of reading copy something to look forward to. I don't know how it is possible to enjoy an all-nighter in Bapst directly after production, but you guys found a way to make that happen. Trish, Zach, Blair, and anyone who joined in on our fun on the copy couch, you made this experience everything that it was. I love you guys and am so incredibly thankful that we found each other on The Heights and formed bonds that I hope will last long after we graduate. Thanks for a great year and I look forward to many more incredible times together. You made it all worth it.
Trish: I can't begin to tell you how glad I am that you were part of the copy team this year. You are one of the most hilarious, intelligent, and generally awesome people I know. You made the long productions fly by, and made me look forward to going to the office every Wednesday and Sunday. Without you I would never have made it through the long productions and frequent all-nighters, nor would I have made it through marathon training. I love you so much and am so unbelievably glad that The Heights brought us together.
Zach: William Wielgus, you better keep the copy legacy alive, even if you're in sports now. You don't know how much I depended on you this year, and you never let me down. During my "cut my life into pieces" moments you found a way to calm me down and make me laugh through whatever I was freaking out about. You're a great copy editor and you're so articulate - which we needed in copy to balance out Trish's and my lack of public speaking skills. I can't imagine how this year would have been without you. I will miss you more than you know next semester. Thanks for everything.
Jackie: You taught me so much about copy, and about life. It is because of you that I remained in copy for a second year, when many people may question why anyone would choose to stay in such a thankless position. You made it fun and you helped me to see the importance of the job and the ability that we have as copy editors to positively influence the quality of the paper. I missed you so much at copy this year.
Tula: Your organizational skills never cease to amaze me. You are the complete opposite of me, and I truly admire you for that. You are so great at what you do, and you made Features one of my favorite sections to read. Good luck with everything next semester; I know you are going to do great things.
Blair: I'm glad our Girls Night bonding made us inseparable. I can't imagine a production without your '90s playlist or a night without you being there till the bitter end (even when you could have left hours ago). You're fun and hilarious and your pop-culture knowledge is quite impressive. I'm going to miss you so much! We better find a way to stay in touch next semester and beyond because you are one of my favorite people.
Tue: My Banana shopping buddy, pooh bear, and Sex and the City date, I will miss you so much next semester. Don't worry, we will skype for our "cut my life into pieces" conversations. It's not easy always being cheerful, but you do a great job of it.
Juicy: FLIP, EHMC, DPs: there are just too many acronyms that define our relationship. I have loved spending as much time as I did with you outside of the office because you are so much fun.
Michelle: You're so awesome and I loved getting to work with you and struggle through Vietnam papers with you. It's been a great year.
Alexi: Your dedication to The Heights is so impressive; you did so many amazing things with your staff and with the quality of the news section. I have loved getting to work with you for the past two years and I truly admire everything you have done for the paper. You are going to make an amazing EIC. Good luck!
Jess: We have many similar interests (12, 2, 94), and I have absolutely loved having you in the office just to hear what you had to say about Boston sports teams. I loved your enthusiasm about sports and truly enjoyed all of your columns. You are an amazing writer and such an interesting person to talk to. I really hope we can keep in touch.
Ryan: You are such an awesome guy and so much fun. I have loved all the time we spent together inside and outside of the office. Your work with graphics and cultivating a committed and united staff has been truly impressive. Good luck with everything next year; I will miss you so much.
Irish: You welcomed me into The Heights when I was an awkward freshman and helped me get through many production nights with our late-night hot chocolate breaks. I loved being your bus buddy and your friend. Thanks for making me feel like a part of The Heights from the very beginning.
Mooney: Despite your leering, nagging, hovering, etc., etc., I'm actually really going to miss you. Thumbs Up: Your Jigglypuff impression, trivia skills, general wisdom. Thumbs Down: some things I said to you in the office out of frustration. I have the utmost respect for you and hope our rivalry in the office was all in fun.
Pilar: You were an amazing EIC. You took so much pride in the paper and were always looking for ways to improve it. I have so much respect for you and am so glad that you were the face of the paper this year. Your poise and intelligence definitely garnered this organization so much respect from the BC community.
MKP: You're smart, organized, and made The Heights run extremely smoothly this year. Thanks for all of your hard work making the paper fun and functional for all of us.
Dave: I have loved getting to read your stories, which were always so well written, and to see all of the work you put into sports. You are great at what you do and are so much fun outside of the office as well. I really wish I could stay on the board to work with you for another year.
Ira: Heisman Esq., you may misspell Hokies on occasion, but you did a great job with sports. Your passion for the paper always showed and I'm going to miss working with you.
Meghan: Having you on The Heights this year has added so much. You are such a genuinely nice person and I always loved talking to you about anything. I also admire the quality of your work and how much you put into making the news section really great.
Matt: You two put in so many long hours and so much hard work making the news section of the highest quality this year. I really admired the effort you put in and your ability to stay focused despite the loud music and laughter coming from the copy corner.
Mike and Keith: You two were so efficient with producing the Marketplace section each week and you always had a great final product. I learned so much just from reading your section and I have so much respect for all of the work that you two put into it.
Jeff: Sharing a corner of the office with you taught me so much about music that I would have never learned. You're an amazing writer and I have loved how dedicated you are to the subjects you wrote about and to constantly improving the quality of your work.
Joe Z: You are hilarious and so smart. You did so many great things for the paper and I really look forward to seeing what you do with Opinions and eventually with a rival publication to The Heights.
Diana: You had one of the most thankless positions and I really appreciated everything you did for all of us on the board. You helped make production run smoothly and were always there to help in any way you could. You did such a great job.
Brynne: You are so organized and dedicated, and you are going to make a great managing editor. Good luck next year!
Fouhy: I have so much respect for all of the work you put into being the EIC. You were such a strong presence on the board and did great things for the newspaper.
Ian and Dave: You both do amazing work with photo and really take pride in the pictures you take. No matter when I would go into the office, I always saw either one of you diligently at work. I have constantly been impressed by what you two did this year.
Jen: You are so impressive as a journalist and so much fun to hang out with outside of the office. You're awesome and it has been so great getting to know you this year.
Christina: I'm glad your position allowed you to be in the office for the most fun and absurd parts of the night. It was really great getting to work with you so late in the evening.
Biz Kids: You all do amazing work. You are the reason we have a paper and I appreciate all of the work you put in this year. I regret not going into the business office more, but it has been great getting to know you guys better at Heights events outside of the office. You guys are great.
Becca and Denise: I owe my joining The Heights, and copy in particular, completely to you two. Through FLIP you brought me into the office and showed me the family that The Heights board was and helped me to become a part of it. Thank you for giving me some great footsteps to follow when I was a confused freshman. I can't imagine my college experience without The Heights, so thank you so for leading me to it.
Mom and Dad: Thanks for everything: for encouraging me to join The Heights, for answering my crying phone calls, and for doing everything you could to make my experiences at BC possible. I love you both so much.
Casey: I have leaned on you more than you know and I would have never made it through certain things without having you to turn to for advice. Thanks for always helping me out with anything and everything. I love you.
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Spring Break
