Over the last four years, I have had the pleasure to serve this community as a reporter, then editor, and finally as editor-in-chief.
Through this job, I’ve gotten to watch ribbons get cut, RSOs get made, and students become leaders within the newsroom and out. It’s easy to lose hope when the entry-level job economy is made out to be the worst in U.S. history and gas prices are outrageous, but I’ve come to find that good things are happening when you look for them.
Better yet, good things happen when you make them happen.
This final letter is a reminder to be a good cardinal. By that, I mean support your peers and show up within your SVSU community. Get a ticket to the upcoming show put on by the Department of Theatre if you can. Go to the free public lecture to hear from an expert on a random topic. Help a classmate when they missed information from a lecture slide.
It’s not hard to be an active cardinal; in fact, it’s the easiest thing to do when most of the activities are free. Afternoon entertainment is just a walk away in the student center or on the football field.
Even when it’s not easy to walk away from a show you’re watching or the homework you’re doing, half the battle is just showing up in your community. You might make a connection you otherwise wouldn’t have or become closer to an acquaintance. Down the line, they could land you a job or become a best friend.
Being a good cardinal is more than participating in lectures, activities, and entertainment; it’s also about paying attention for opportunities to do good. For example, there’s a blood drive scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4 on campus.
Not good with needles? Then consider other low-stake ways to help your fellow cardinal like sharing internship opportunities with a friend you know would be a good fit for the job or telling others about a resource they might not know about.
One resource I may be biased towards is a student-run newspaper called The Valley Vanguard. If you’re reading this, I probably don’t need to tell you to support student journalism, but I will tell you to continue engaging with this paper and support the next group of editors.
My successor, current Sports Editor Paige Terry, will bring a fresh perspective (and puns) to the page. I have full confidence in her ability to continue delivering quality news and entertainment during this transitional period where the staff is still growing and changes are still taking shape.
How could I not? We have a great team of editors who are committed to delivering information to the community and a great team of photographers and reporters who are excited to shed light on important topics.
Stay informed and help your community stay informed by spreading the good work of The Valley Vanguard. Hand a peer an extra copy or give yours to a professor — you never know if their name is in it or if they have a friend highlighted.
New readers might also learn something new or be reminded of an important date; for example, election day on Nov. 3. A good cardinal is an even better citizen when they participate in democracy, and it’s one of the easiest and most accessible ways to make a difference.
Be a good cardinal and an even better citizen: show up, stay informed, and go vote. You might just make good things happen.
