Goodbye to an Old Friend, Hello to a New One
Hello again! Throughout the past two semesters, I have written to you on several occasions and our conversations have spanned many topics, including the legalization of marijuana and a plea for student involvement in campus activities. Although these issues seem to be unrelated at first glance, my intentions are the commonality among them—not the subject matter. As editor-in-chief (EIC) of The Wilson Billboard I have made it my mission to keep the campus informed, while providing a platform to express diverse views within our community. My small, dedicated staff worked hard to cover every important event and showcase every student achievement. This was not an easy feat with a staff of less than ten people.
As I say goodbye to my role as EIC, I look to the future of our student-run newsmagazine. I wonder if more students will get involved in its production to ensure that my mission continues to be an attainable goal. I am hopeful that being part of something as transformative and beneficial as student newswriting regains the interest of the student body. What would the “Wilson experience” be like without the Billboard archiving its valuable moments and turning them into tangible pieces of history?
On a more upbeat note, I am pleased to introduce Casey Beidel as the next editor-in-chief for the Billboard. Casey is an excellent fit for the position and his experiences as a writing instructor at Wilson’s Writing Center guarantee that future Billboard articles will be coherent and well-written—a major plus for any publication!
Casey also brings to the EIC position a light-hearted sense of humor, which will serve him and his staff well as they deal with deadlines and other trying issues. His intelligence and amiable personality will also aid him in attracting and retaining committed staff.
All that is left for me to say is “Goodbye and thank you to the entire Wilson community for supporting us. Best of luck to all of you!”
Lesley Eichelberger
Editor-in-Chief, The Wilson Billboard
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Hello Wilson Community!
Starting this fall semester, I will be taking over as the editor-in-chief of The Wilson Billboard. Though I am a fairly new member of the Billboard staff, I have learned a lot in the last few months, and I am excited to continue the publication’s legacy.
I graduated from Wilson in 2013 with a major in English and a minor in Film Studies, and I am currently a graduate student here and am enrolled in the Master of Humanities program. Currently, I am the lead writing tutor for the Academic Support Center where I help students with every step of the writing process. My specialty is in creative writing, though I also have experience with both academic and journalistic writing.
Picking up where Lesley has left off, I plan to make it easier than ever for students to write for the Billboard. With the help of Graphic Design Editor Shoshana Rudski ’15, students of all academic backgrounds will be able to confidently report and produce quality news. Shoshana will focus on graphic design issues so that I am able to focus all my attention on helping students with the newswriting process. One of Lesley’s biggest goals as editor-in-chief was to teach our reporters what makes good stories. I plan on continuing that idea next year and allow Shoshana to help students with the layout process.
Most importantly, I want the next year to be fun. Though producing a newspaper can be a lot of hard work, with a motivated and enthusiastic staff behind it, writing for the Billboard does not have to feel like homework. I will do my best to keep the process fun and lively.
Now I come to you, faithful readers of the Billboard. If you have any interest in journalistic writing, if you are looking for something to put on your resume or if you are looking for a way to get your opinions heard, I invite you to join us. It is going to be a great year.
Sincerely,
Casey Beidel