University of Maine - Prism Yearbook (Orono, ME)

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I wos or the four o'clock meeting in the Den, drinking beer with friends ond The Hew Edition stoff members. The 'meeting' wos o doily event at which we would relox after working ond honging out ot the office during much of the dov- If most often served os o discussion ond rop session over story ideas, news events and generol policy of the newspaper Indeed, most of the newspopers mojOr formot changes ond decisions hove been mode over beer in the Den Irresponsible? Some soy so But I let the evidence do the talking. The finest decisions we ever mode resulted from four o'clock club meetings ond from talking over beer ond pizza ot Pot’s Anyway, todoy, I wos reminiscing while the Others did the talking. I often wondered how I hod ever gotten involved in the whole thing ond reolty whether it WOS worth It (try working 60-hour product on weeks during closses, ond thot's o low figure, ond not think such thoughts. Blocking out the voices, the murmuring, the silence . Reminisong. A phone coll from my brother, who hod iust started working at the poper os 'generol office help', telling me the editor (ominous words — shivers, butterflies, and such) said he might be able to use me ot the office, ond would I hove dmner to discuss the ideo5 Eotmg dinner ot Col's (editor) with my brother. Jittery, nervous pleose soy I con work for the newspoper . Yes! Elotion! A job' Reminiscing. My first interview My first story to moke it into the newspaper. Front Poge! Then onother story ond o third, ond so on. The softy old dog reporter of the staff Me' Who ever would hove thought' l remembered production weekends Getting on campus ot 8 o.m Soturdoy morning. Coffee, doughnuts, consolations (what o woy to spend o weekend, especially offer last night') And then working through the day, ond night Midnight And then oil day Sunday Hearing church services m the Drummond Chopel down the hoi I, ond si- lently proymg thot oil would go well with this is- sue Thank God it's only once every two weeks Sundoy. Mdnight Finished Tired. Why do I do this to myself? Home Bed Anticipation Woiting around the office for the popers to return from the press. Woiting. At lost they arrive. Snatching up copies, flipping through poges for mistakes Any maior problems5 Forgot- ten photos? Mispioced headlines? None (usuolly). Relief We did it Yes (grinning), we did it Pride Taking the rest of the day off Four o'clock club meeting, to discuss, tear opart the issue, compli- ment, criticize, suggest improvements, begm talk- ing of the next issue (only two weeks owoy), drink beer, ond relox Yes it is oil rcolly worthwhile. For moments like this it is worthwhile Reminiscing. The newspoper's post A Student Government newsletter, tabloid size Five man opcrotion (now 40), s'oppy, unread A'rog' Printed from ond by Student Government. Different names 1976 — The Student Poper, April, 1978 The Student Advocate. September, 1978 — The New Edition Col Brown ond Steve Guthrie ond lots of hord work and initiative, ond the first ossertion of edi- toriol freedom from Student Government. A reol newspoper for the first time October, 1979 — The New Edition ond speool Fortnightly supple- ment (now o regular feature) Dove Prichord brings the paper from brink of disaster by Storting fmanciol bookkeeping in time to cotch o post ond bu-lding debt of SI3,000. Doubts Will the news- paper survive? Slashing the budget, oil volunteer stoff no quitters ond lots of dedication ond de- termination. Answer Yes we will survive. We will flourish (I think the high point of my ossocioticn with The New Edition, wos when, after explaining to the stoff thot oil poy would be cut, and posi tions would be volunteer, only two of obout forty pod members quit There wos more thon poy keeping people working on the paper ) Rem mscing Memories The problems, lore deadlines, copy shortoges, lost minute stories (ond rushing oround for interviews), gnawing dread thot the poper will never get out The benefits. Opening up o psychological shell, meeting people, knowing people, working together toward o common gool. ond making it Experiences The four o'clock club. My friends, the present. Oh, yeoh The present I slumbered out of my memories ond setting back into my seat ot the Den, looked oround the toblc ot the stoff members who were criticizing some ospect or onother of our lost edi tion Strong disagreement and discussion (Crilly Ritz: We never orgue ot The New Edition we iust discuss) The stoff working toward becoming better Alwoys. And coring enough to work ot it A lot Yeoh, The New Edition hos been worth it For me it hos been well worth it

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OCTOBER First Snow 10 9 79 It's SNOWING!!! Everyone was a little amazed at the early snow and wondered if it was a sign of a hard winter. Suddenly there were thoughts of anti-freeze and snow tires. But all in all it was a surprisingly mild winter with less than 25 inches total snowfall. However there was a lot of rain instead which meant a lot of ice and broken bones and sore butts.