Hey Patriots,
After a six week stretch, we’ll be taking a couple weeks off for midterms and spring break. Spending six weeks with the same group of people in close proximity really taught me a lot about the team my Co Editor and I work with.
For example, our News team, Laura and Alexa, tend to do accents or animal noises when they start to feel stressed out about the production schedule. If these telltale noises didn’t exist, I don’t think I would’ve noticed that the stress phased them at all. They work as a seamless, finely tuned machine to put together a section I’m more proud of with each passing week. Also, a pretty awesome comedic duo, but I think the noises help with that.
Our Culture editor Peter has the best taste in wine, and the most interesting stories about his life. The man’s an enigma, but in the best way. Nayomi, though she’s newer, is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen. She’s the first to volunteer her time for a story, even missing social events to work late on a Friday night.
Domenic, our assistant Sports editor, will absolutely take over in the kitchen for me after I try — and fail — to make pasta for a relaxing night with the staff. (To be perfectly honest, I didn’t try at all. I got the pot out for him and bought the ingredients). The editor of this dynamic duo, Natalie, can crank out like, one thousand stories in four days and is still home in time for dinner. This feat never ceases to amaze me.
Our Opinion editor, Dominic, is able to keep us laughing throughout these countless hours of writing, editing and layout, which is a highly underrated skill.
Our Art Department, Ally, Billy and Niki, are able to keep us all at ease and laughing with their perfect photos, videos and graphics every week.
Delaney, our copy chief, is a whiz with edits and a wonderful house guest. Lexi, our social media director, is able to balance internships, class and this job like it’s absolutely nothing, which is a skill I both envy and admire.
And my Co Editor, Hailey, is arguably more chaotic than I am — and that’s saying something, for those of you who don’t know us. She walks the line of a responsible partner and fun-loving friend of mine well, and I am most thankful for her in my life.
Anyways, we’ve got a great issue for you guys this week. Fourth Estate was invited to attend a press conference that introduced our next president, Gregory Washington. Read more about him on page four.
In Culture, one writer paid tribute to the Mason dining celebrity, Robert Daniels of Southside. Read about that on page eight.
Sports did an in-depth look into Mason’s swim team, and it left a splashing impact for me as a reader. Check that out on page 14.
Our Opinion section has a new assistant editor, Savannah. Savannah’s been a dedicated writer to that section for a while now, and I’m super excited to see the section grow under her judgment and creativity. Check out the Opinion section this week, starting on page 15.
As always, if there are any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to reach back out to us at masonfourthestate@gmail.com. See you in two weeks.
Sincerely,
Dana Nickel
Co Editor-in-Chief
