In April of 2021, the end of my freshman year, I texted this girl and asked if she wanted to get coffee sometime. We had gotten to know each other a little bit through UNI Dance Marathon as we navigated our first year of college still in the midst of a pandemic, masks in hand and cherishing any in-person interaction we could get.
We hung out that week — me getting a coffee from Chat’s, her a smoothie — and talked for over an hour on the roof of Maucker Union. Through that conversation, she mentioned that she worked for the school newspaper. Within a week I was filling out an online application, ready to jump into the unfamiliar but exciting world of journalism.
This girl was Caroline Christensen — the Northern Iowan’s own current executive editor. We had no idea as freshmen sitting on top of Maucker Union that the two of us would spend our senior year working side by side as news editor and executive editor for the school paper, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Joining the Northern Iowan was the best decision I ever made. It’s given me confidence, purpose, knowledge and the best friends I could have asked for. I’ve been able to report on enthralling guest speakers visiting campus, inspiring student endeavors, responses to state legislative measures, severe weather, UNI basketball and more.
It has also been such a privilege to get to design the front page each week. I will always appreciate my team’s ability to embrace new design ideas and to adapt to a changing look to the newspaper this year. In our office, I have every single front page on display on the bulletin board above my desk, and when I look up at all 29 previous issues, I feel nothing but pride.
I’m endlessly grateful for everyone who has supported me during these two years I’ve been news editor and the three years I’ve been writing for the Northern Iowan. I’d like to thank our adviser Christopher Martin for wholeheartedly believing in everything we do, and our adviser Anelia Dimitrova for her encouragement along the way.
I’d also like to extend a thank you to everyone in this community who has ever taken time out of their day to sit down for an interview with me. I’ve written 70 articles for the Northern Iowan, and none of those would have been possible without this community’s support for student journalism.
To my dear Campbell Hall friends Maggie and Macey, thank you. A lot of times, the two of you heard the stories first. Thanks for listening time and time again, through the good times and the bad.
To my fellow graduating editors, I’m so so proud of you. Caden Shea, I’ll always appreciate the joy you brought to the office this year. I know more about Wrestlemania than I ever intended to thanks to you, and I’ll be waiting for your album to drop.
Caroline Christensen, it’s not an exaggeration to say that I wouldn’t be doing any of this without you. You’ve done incredible things for this newsroom and left an impact on student journalism on this campus that is unmatched. The Northern Iowan has undergone a lot of changes over the past few years, and I’m so happy I was able to navigate those times with you as my coworker and friend.
Karina Ortiz, it’s been an absolute pleasure to work on the Spanish section with you for the past year and a half. You are quite possibly the coolest person I know, and your kindness and sheer talent does not go unnoticed.
Antonia Goodwin, your attention to detail and creative headline ideas have been so helpful this year as copy editor. It’s been great to get to know you
To the new and returning staff, I know the newsroom will be in good hands. Sophie Hoffmeier the webmaster, I’ll miss our pre-meeting chats in your office. Thank you for not taking yourself too seriously, and go get yourself that extra sweet treat.
Steph Stark, I’ll always appreciate you going out and taking last minute photos for the front page, even in bad weather. I wish you the best for the rest of your time at UNI, and please stay out of too much trouble.
Bailey Klinkhammer, you are going to be a wonderful executive editor next year. You have a passion and drive for journalism that is exactly what student newspapers need. Your voice in your writing is incredible, and I can’t wait to see everything you accomplish.
Jo Brahms, I’m so excited for you to take on the role of news editor. To you, Cohen Kamaus, Estelle Johnson, Luis Alvarez and Lizbeth Garcia Tellez as new members of the editorial team, remember to have fun and take it all in. It won’t always be easy, but rely on your team. It’s a really special experience to be a part of, and I’m so happy that each of you are embarking on this journey.
I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough to step away from an organization that I’ve given so much of my time and energy to. However, I’ve gained so much more from this organization and this university than I ever could have imagined.
Love you all, and go cats,
Mallory Schmitz
News Editor
