The final regular issue of Spectrum for 21-22 is out on the racks and online. The special senior edition is ready to be published. As they say in the movie business, “it’s a wrap.”
Except for one more step: to acknowledge the contributions of the graduating editors and to wish them well as they go on their way.
There is at least one thing the seniors can know once they’ve left campus. If they want to find an article they wrote or a topic they covered, they are sure to find it on the Spectrum website, thanks to Amber Martinez, the Spectrum web editor for the past three years. Before she came, the website was not in a good place, to put it gently. Amber stepped up to the job. Throughout the summer of 2019 she worked diligently with Prof. Keith Z. to redo the whole site professionally and make it great going forward.
Amber isn’t the only “back office” editor to make a major difference. Even if you don’t see their bylines in Spectrum, you do see Spectrum, thanks to PR manager Theo Haubrich and assistant Jackie Champoux. They have taken Spectrum’s social media presence to new heights. Further, as soon as in-person table times were back, so was the PR staff handing out print editions in the HC hallway.
For many readers, it’s the content that they think about first when they hear about Spectrum. The perspectives section is where you find out what students are really thinking about any type of issue. Editor Ashlin Haley made sure you heard the sentiment of Sacred Heart students on serious issues like gas prices and nursing burnout. She also covered campus topics like fun things to do in the spring and, a topic close to their hearts, how do you feel now that you’re graduating.
Coming up and snagging the best topics isn’t just a challenge for perspectives, but even more so for features. Who gets to cover Greek Week or developments in diversity and inclusion? Features often had to battle it out with other sections, and more often than not came up the winner, thanks to editor Julia Hallisey and assistant Jenn Hallowell.
While features usually put the spotlight on campus, the arts and entertainment section typically roamed all over the country. Editor Lizzy Coyne let Spectrum readers know who won the Oscars and what was happening at the Sundance Festival. Speaking of “country” if you didn’t know what Dolly Parton has been up to, check out A &E. All of those topics are, of course, in addition to the many theatrical events on campus and at the new Community Theater. But what Lizzy is likely to be remembered for most is fashion. And more fashion. Her passion for the subject brought a new dimension to Spectrum reporting – and likely some new styles for its readers.
But when it comes to taking on the challenges of identifying topics and making sure that they are relevant and right, that job falls to the news editor Sophie Camizzi and assistant Emilee Camodeo. They diligently pursued the news on Ukraine, the Supreme Court, the new provost and making daylight savings time permanent (maybe). Sophie was there in the 211 class every 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday to guide her staff to get up to speed on the important topics of the day and be ready to interview and write with awareness and clarity.
As happens almost every year, an editor or two graduates early. And this year it was Maria Cipriano. During her tenure as sports editor, she made many key decisions about what sports to cover at a university with a full schedule, and to make sure the sports writing staff knew just how to work with Athletic Communications to get the interviews they needed.
The stories are, of course, what Spectrum is about. But, like so much of media, it’s also a business. As the managing editor for business, Deanna Reinhardt kept an eye on money – and on the ad sales, and the printing company, and anything else that came up that wasn’t strictly copy. She was not only a numbers person, but also a creative force on the paper who brought up many imaginative ideas of how to make improvements.
All of this – the editorial sections, the on-time publication, the managing of the staff – was the job of the “boss.” And no one could do it better than editor-in-chief Maisy Carvalho. Maisy seemed to be everywhere at once, maintaining multiple campus roles while making sure Spectrum got out each week with accuracy, authority and integrity. Maisy inspired everyone to work harder, be better and have fun along the way. And she answered emails quickly! Spectrum is very grateful to have had her wisdom and her character at the helm.
Some of the editors will be staying on campus in the graduate program. And, as in the past, they will often say as they leave Spectrum, “I’ll be here so let me know if I can do anything.” Sure. Maybe. Not really. Even if they are down the hall, those who’ve graduated have truly moved on – immersed in graduate studies, new jobs, traveling and finding new experiences and goals beyond Spectrum and their undergraduate years. And that’s the way it should be, for this is the time for exploration of self and of the world, bolstered by the knowledge of the past four years.
Any time there is nostalgia, or curiosity, about something to do with Spectrum, there’s an easy solution for that. Pick up that paper copy you stored in a bin back at home, check out that editorial you wrote online, and find out what’s new in the latest edition of those who’ve taken over your roles. And go forth in confidence and joy, knowing that you have made a wonderful contribution during your time at Sacred Heart in that rarefied world of publishing the news.
Wishing you all the best,
Prof. Joanne Kabak
Spectrum Faculty Advisor
