Once upon a time,
there was a girl named Lauren who wandered down the hallways of McElroy, and into the now sealed doorway of the newsroom. Through this oversized office she went, weaving between desks to the closet in the back, where squeezed between two desks sat Jess Mannix, looking very composed and diligent as she typed away at ad orders, under the careful supervision of a one, Mr. Kevin Schohl.

After chatting with her new friends she turned to the couch and saw two other freshmen hard at work. Mariel and Steven, the tag team of ads staffers who many thought were dating, introduced themselves and a friendship was born amidst the shuffle of the room.

Lauren turned to leave, dodging the intimidating yells of the editor-in-chief, and made a break for the door only to be stopped by Tim Czerwienski, the news editor, positioned at his desk which guarded the door.

Nervous, Lauren said, "Have a nice day," and went to walk out, however she was stopped by the news editor's confusing words, "Did you call me Slick?" "No," Lauren answered, but regardless Tim decided that he always wanted to be called Slick. In fact, he also wanted to have a friend named Laser, and thought that it would be a good fit for the confused freshman trying to escape from the office. And so that was how Lauren's first day at the newspaper went, having made four new friends and acquired a nickname from a confused upperclassman.

I never would have guessed, on that day in late September, that three years later I would be watching the business staffers come in and out, and be watching Matthew Struzziero, inserting ad orders and wrestling with the editor-in-chief in 112, which has since replaced the closet that used to be the Business Office.

It has been an exciting journey from being an Ads Staffer to Manager, and then on to Business Manager and GM, one that has shaped my time at Boston College. Over my three years (an approximate 3000 hours of time at my various desks), I have made my best friends, met some of the brightest people at BC, and adopted the Heights as my family and the office as my second home. Every year I've moved from dorm to dorm, but through it all I've always found the things I like best at BC to be in McElroy.

Thank you for letting me be a member of your club, there is nothing I've loved more.


Letters to my Patricks: Just so the both of you know, I have never in my life on The Heights been more excited than after the editor elections, when I realized that the two of you had made the decision to join the business side. As far as I am concerned, there is no place better.
Patrick: You are such a wonderful, smart and driven person. I have loved every second of getting to work with you and I think the only downside has been that I probably use slightly stronger language now than when I started. I hope you don't think I was ever frustrated with you, because I wasn't, and I hope you know that you were always helpful, and never overbearing. I think this year I've made a few very good friends, and I think that you are one of the finest. You're going to do a wonderful job on the paper next year, as well as with everything else you try. If you ever need another glorified assistant, sign me up.

Pat: When you shine your mid-western smile, it makes me feel so much better, no matter what. You have without fail been an encouragement and friend to not only me but everyone on the paper. If I were a betting woman, I would tell you that I think you and I are going to be very good friends for a very long time. You told me the other day that when you start outreach, you'll be reaching in my direction - I'm looking forward to it.


Letters to my fellow Champaign Drinkers: Here's to a memorable 3 years
Mariel: You are totes adorbs, and I love you to death. I have had so much fun with you these past three years, and I can think of no one else I would have rather shared all this time, these heights parties and all our crazy stories with. Hope I make it to the next dance party!

Nick: I am so glad we've gotten to know each other over the past 2.5. I feel like wherever you go, a party follows, with the office being no exception. Thanks for being a good friend - I'm looking forward to many more happy hours.

Jeff: From my back end view of sports, it always seems to me like such a challenge, and you've always taken it and run with it. Copy has always given me a slightly skewed view of sports editors, but now I know it's just because you're all so nice--especially when you do your athletics voices.

Phil: I was so sad when I heard that you would be away for the Christmas dinner; I hope you know that you were missed. You have been such an assets to the board, and have always been a pleasure to see in the office.

Erika: I have loved getting to know you, and I hope that we can become better friends over the next year. You are such a beautiful, strong person, and I admire how always stick to what you know is just right. I hope you enjoy your coming year of freedom!


Letters to my BizAds Friends, who should come first on the Masthead
Mike: I fell like I've latched on to you and gone for a fantastic ride. You are so capable and I cannot wait to see what you do for the paper, as well as for the finances of the American public once you graduate. I could not imagine leaving my position in better hands, and my biggest hope is that you find that I've left my desk in good shape for you. I believe you love the paper as much as I do, and I am thrilled to pass you over the pen to the checkbook.

Matt: Struzz, you have been the force that has helped me keep Patrick in check. It has been comforting to know that if need be I have someone less than a foot away capable of pummeling him at least 45% of the time. You are one of the funniest and most genuine people I know and I am so glad that we've gotten to be friends.

Kim: It has also been good to know that a desk away from Struzz has been a lady who can run circles around him in basketball. You have done such a wonderful job in ads, and have been such a wonderful friend to me.

Madeline: You are so classy and put together and are just what a business lady should be like. You are going to do a fantastic job with ads, and I am so excited to hear all about all the ads records you and your team break. If you do better than my September, tell Mike to get you a flatscreen.

Kyle: I think of you, Mike and John as a business dream team. You are going to do an absolutely fantastic job as business manager - it is a very elite club. Welcome, and make sure you keep Mike in line.

Ryan: Yes, you're on the business side. And always will be. You were absolutely, no matter what I have said, my favorite staffer and my fav graphics editor

Ian: You, my friend, are on the business side too. I still can't believe I lent you to photo. You are such fun and such a hard worker, and I know you will be fantastic in photo for another year - good luck with those staffers. You're like the little brother I never had and I know we'll stay good friends.

Chris Lane: You came out of nowhere and built a second hamster. It's ridiculous. Thanks so much for coming in when we needed you and being awesome.

Grace & Joelle: You ladies are going to have such fun with ads. Enjoy

John O'Reilly: You are going to be quite the assistant business manager. You are so lucky to get to hang out with Kyle and Mike - they are awesome and can teach you so much. I'm very excited to see where you end up (I have my bets).

John Glass: Whenever I see you, which at this point is less often than I would like, I have a blast. All of your local ads exploits made for some great stories, and some even better additions to my vocabulary - ie. jaeger. Thanks for all the fun in the BizAds office.

Steven: I have loved having you as a friend in and out of the office, and am so luck to have spent 2 years with you and Mariel. The two of you were some of my first friends at BC and I'm so happy I can still count you among them.

Becca Shaw: You always kept it classy, on Crosby and everywhere else. You are such a caring person; you're always so professional with the work you do but a riot at the same time. Thank you for always helping me and being such a lovely friend.

Dylan: You did such a great job with circulation we were able to cut the position. There is no other person or job I can say that about

Jess Mannix: It was an absolute pleasure getting to be your staffer - you always made me feel like part of the team.

Kevin: Even though I've been the GM for a year, I still feel like I'm at your desk. You did so much and set the bar high, and I'm proud to say that I think if you'd been here watching me the whole time you'd think I did a good job. Thank you for all the help and advice over the past three years.

John Murray: What fun we had together in ads. I loved being an ads staffer because you took me out on those little sales calls, which def hooked me into the section. You have been a good friend, a plethora of good stories, and a fantastic host/guest of many a loser-palooza. Thanks for teaching me the ropes.

Kevin, Dan, Mark, Diana, Mr. Fouhy and Chris: Thank you so much for all of your wisdom over the past two years. I can't imaging its easy dealing with a group of college kids trying to run their own organization, but I hope I have made it somewhat tolerable for you. Looking forward to keeping in touch and to many alumni dinners together.


Letters to my Editorial Friends, who are actually at the top of the Masthead
Jackie, Courtney & Tula: The ladies on the copy couch are always some of the finest on the paper. You three have been no exception.

Pilar: You did so well in news; I can't wait to see the work you do as EIC. Remember to listen to Mike though, because he knows his stuff, and will only help you. Good luck, you have bigger shoes to fill than I think you might realize.

Alexi: I think you are one of the most talented people on this paper and were completely over-qualified for EA. I am so excited you'll be taking over news - it's a perfect fit.

Chris: I absolutely loved helping with news once in a while - thank you for humoring me. I hope you have a wonderful time abroad, I'm sorry you aren't staying for another stint.

Grant: You are going to be such a great ME. Pat talks with such confidence about you - I feel like that is the biggest complement one can receive. Have fun, and don't work too hard.

Jess: Have fun in sports! Good luck keeping those guys in line, they seem like a party. Can't wait to read your picks.

Lisa & Neil: You have done a wonderful job in features and have consistently been two very friendly faces on the other side of the office. Lisa - thank you for the Brokaw xox

Stuart, Alex & Juicy: Go bust some caps out there. The three of you are great.

Mike & Keith: Thank you for letting me be your columnist for a while, and for publishing one especially impressive piece on Struzziero-Style Fashion. I can't wait to see what you do with Marketplace for another year.

Tim Mooney: You're going to do a fantastic job in Opinions. It's funny - we're both leaving my desk at the same time. I bet it will miss us.

Paschall: Thanks for being a good friend and an endless source of stories, especially as it pertains to class, permanent markers, and the infirmary.

Tue: Good luck with Layout, and thank you for all the help with this page. It would have been hot mess if you hadn't.

Dave & Tom: Hey Guys! It's been odd not having you both in the office this last year, but luckily you've made up for it by hanging out in my room. You are both so talented, and such good friends (to each other, and to me too), and I am quite excited to join your group of has-beens.

Sonny: I hope you're impressed - these are all my InDesign skills in one place. Thank you for teaching me.

Denise: I have missed seeing you around the office this past year - you were always such a breath of fresh air. Hopefully I'll get to see you at the alumni dinner!

Bernie: If you'd done anything besides transfer to Harvard I would have found you leaving completely unacceptable. You are so smart and kind, and the Crimson staged quite the coup in getting you over there.

Boots: If there is one person I'm sad left early, it's you. My consolation is that you work for the White House. When is my tour again?

Chris Carty: My hands-down favorite Heights story ever was in NH, when we wrapped you up in your mattress and dragged you around, and then Ryan staged a full out strategic-op to recover you (see photo). You have been such a wonderful resource for me over the past three years, and you always made me feel like I was holding up my end of the deal in ads. Thanks for all the help and all the confidence.

Slick: The other day when I cleaned out my desk, I packed up my shade ball, and realized I was really leaving. Now that I'm out of here though, I'm going to have to start wandering into your office.

Ryan Heffernan: You were the best, and that's all there is to it. You made me want to work hard and take pride in it, mostly because you were always sure to show you appreciated what I did. I remember crying once (maybe several times) because I though I didn't have enough ads for you, and thank goodness I've toughened up since then. When I think of the Heights I think of you, and I really appreciate how well you set the stage for all of us.


Letters to my Roommates - at the top of my Masthead
Kasia: I feel like if I did as much with anyone else as I do with you it just wouldn't work out, however the two of us manage to have a fantastic time that seems to increase the more we're together - especially when we just knowingly stare at each other in class. I am so happy that we joined the paper at the same time and so have always had it in common, and now I'm eagerly awaiting induction into your has-beens - thanks for giving me the vote. Hearts!!

Lisa: When we were on the Heights together I mostly admired you from afar for your feature writing skills, but for the past year I've gotten to appreciate you as a wonderful friend full of love and laughs. I am so excited that I'll be home with you all a bit more next semester.

Erin: You have been particularly understanding of my odd hours and constant phone calls, especially since you've really been around the paper mostly as an interesting "group" that meets in our former living room late on Friday nights. I am so happy we're roommates, and I'm even happier we're friends. I love you tons.


Grammy and Grandpy: Thank you for being my most loyal readers and editorial admirers. I am hard pressed to think of anyone who reads the paper more diligently than the two of you. I am so happy I came to Boston College for many reasons, one of which is that I got to be a Bostonian like you. Love you both.

Daddy: I'm so glad you've enjoyed the paper - thank you for putting it in your brag box.

Mommy & Neal: Thanks for reading, and thanks for all the legal and time management advice. Those cease and desists are waiting if we need them. You're the best.

Allison: Thank you for not thinking I'm too much of a dork for being on a newspaper, and for coming to Heights parties with me. I heart you.

Mark: I think it's really funny that we've dated almost exactly as long as I've been on the Heights. You've been so supportive and sweet through it all. Thank you for everything.

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