First Week On The Job

A couple weeks ago, I was elected Editor in Chief of The Miscellany News through Fall 2008. For those of you that know me, you know how much I love The Misc. I started my first week freshman year as a Guest Writer, and worked my way up through the ranks. Working for the campus newspaper has been such an unbelievably rewarding experience. I've learned so much through my years on the paper, especially from those above me on the chain of command.

It's pretty scary, though, to think that now *I'm* the person at the top of the masthead. This past issue was my first as Editor in Chief; it was terrifying to say the least. I used to be responsible for only a single section - now I'm responsible for a 20-24 page paper every week. All of a sudden, writers and editors began coming up to me asking for my input and direction. There is SO much that goes into the creation of a newspaper that readers don't even think about. Even writers and editors don't always see the paper from all of its many angles - I certainly didn't until this past week. Thankfully I have two wonderfully organized Senior Editors to catch mistakes and aid in the production process. Plus, The Misc has unbelievably talented Editorial Board, who work tirelessly to make the paper as well-written as it is.

It's certainly a tremendous amount of work, but The Misc is an obsession of mine. This summer, I'll be working on redesigning our Web site and archiving old newspapers (dating back to the 1860s!) online. Incoming freshmen! If you're interested in working on The Miscellany News, I would love to get the Class of 2012 involved. Shoot me an e-mail at brfarkas@vassar.edu, and I'll tell you more about how to begin writing for Vassar's oldest publication.

Getting the Scoop

There are few activities at Vassar that I've enjoyed more than my work on The Miscellany News. The Misc, as students call it, was founded in 1866 as The Vassar Miscellany, and has spanned the history of the College. Students here have a proud tradition of investigative journalism, a tradition which we continue into the present day.

Just last night, we 'scooped' the College in announcing some major upcoming changes to campus dining. We posted our story on our Web site http://misc.vassar.edu at 1 a.m. and administrators sent out their announcement at 10 a.m. today. It felt wonderful to inform the community and beat them to it! Next year, the All Campus Dining Center (ACDC for short) will be remodeled to allow for a lot more up-front food preparation. Vassar will also renovate the Kiosk, a coffee and snack stand in the College Center for people on the move during the day. There has also been some talk of adding another convenience store in ACDC, which would have small, a la cart items.

Pretty cool. I love student journalism here at Vassar, and would encourage all students - current and prospective - to get involved. The more voices we are able to represent, the stronger The Misc becomes, even 140 years after its founding.

April Days...

Looking around campus, I can see the buds beginning to form on the trees, the grass beginning to green, and of course, the ubiquitous squirrels beginning to emerge and make their presence known. But I see something else - hundreds of prospective students! Campus tours seem to be everywhere. April can be a difficult time for high school students; the decisions that they make among the often numerous schools to which they are admitted can be complex. Should you choose based on the buildings? Based on the class size? Based on the people you meet? 

As I hear the guides talk about the Vassar's founding or the huge number of books in the library, I can't help but remember my days as a high school senior on that same tour. Though I'm already a sophomore, it seems like it was just yesterday that my dad and I came up to Poughkeepsie to see the campus. We had a wonderful trip up along the Hudson from New York City, where I live. After the info session and tour, we walked to Vassar's huge sports fields, where we had a catch and talked about all of my college choices. I later visited Vassar for a second time with one of my best friends on Admitted Students Weekend.

Honestly, the process of selecting Vassar as my clear first choice was not an easy one. I had numerous conversations with friends and parents, teachers and college counselors, all of whom seemed to give me different advice. I think there were two aspects of the College that sold me. The first is superficial: the Library. If you haven't been on a tour and walked inside the unbelievable Thompson Memorial Library, you're missing out. Not only is the building itself magnificent - complete with imposing spires and cathedral-like ceilings - but it contains over a million printed books, plus untold numbers of electronic journals, magazines and newspapers. As a history major, I love the process of research. Nothing has facilitated that research more than the Library, a building that I fell in love with from the moment I saw it.

Second, the people that I met when visiting Vassar struck me as some of the most thoughtful and ambitious that I have ever encountered. I met one guy who was working to raise money for schools in Haiti, another girl who was pre-med with a double major in biology and English with a minor in Math (!) and another guy who was on three varsity teams. Not only are the students here interested in so many different things, but they also excel at all of them. That first impression has wrung true with the people that I've met since I arrived as a freshman.

Coming to Vassar was one of the best decisions I've ever made. All of my gut feelings about the students and the campus proved correct. I'm always happy to answer any questions about Vassar from prospective students... just shoot me an e-mail at brfarkas@vassar.edu.