Life is like a Cranberry Farms turkey dinner, or at least working at The Cavalier Daily is. Sometimes the turkey is dry or fatty or sometimes the turkey is not there at all. Sometimes the "biscuit" is a soggy piece of white bread and occasionally it is even cornbread. Much like a turkey dinner, The Cavalier Daily presents itself in changing states - just not on black plastic plates. Some days working at The CD feels like a top-notch bird, a warm buttermilk biscuit and perfect stuffing. Other days it's Pav food one buys but doesn't eat out of sheer disgust. But my friends at The Cavalier Daily make even the worst days fulfilling, wonderful days.
After a year as Business Manager/Chief Financial Officer, I have to publicly admit that I had the best job at the University. While the number of CFOs at the University is a club more exclusive than any secret society, CFO is not the position I originally intended to fill over the last year. Instead, I wanted to be Editor-in-Chief. Boy, did I have some learning to do. When last year's Managing Board finished its term, I remember telling my girlfriend, who you will meet later: "I am going to run the whole damn place." This came true, just not as I had imagined it. I lost the election, but it was the greatest thing I ever lost.
As I compose my parting shot I am looking at a fortune cookie insert that I received one night when the newspaper staff was having Chinese food. It reads: "A minor disappointment isn't the end of the world." This isn't exactly a fortune, but it is one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received and it is unequivocally true. I have learned to look at myself and really focus on who I am, what suits me best, and what I would really enjoy doing. I am not an Editor-in-Chief, but instead a Business Manager. I learned the most important lesson of my term on my first night.
I don't intend for my parting shot to be a goodbye at all, but a means for me to tip my hat to all of the wonderful people who got me to and got me through working at The Cavalier Daily. I came to the newspaper as a soaking wet-behind-the-ears Business Manager and became a less wet-behind-the-ears Chief Financial Officer.
To my family: You have supported me in everything I can remember and have allowed me to become a man. Thank you for giving me and teaching me about responsibility. Thank you for encouraging me to lead, to excel and to not be afraid of hard work. Thank you for allowing me to put you behind the newspaper for a year so that I could do a job I am proud of. Simply put, I would not have been Chief Financial Officer without you and more importantly I would not have been the man I am today without your guidance and love.
Kristi: We started as friends, you became my girlfriend, you had a small stretch as my employee at The Cavalier Daily, and you will always remain my friend and high school sweetheart. I realize how hard a year this was for you while I gave so much time to The CD, but I appreciate your dedication to me and the things I want to do. I know you better, respect you more, and thank you for your love, support and guidance. You constantly restore my faith in humanity through your compassion and caring attitude. A man could not hope for or imagine a better woman.
Matt and Dorian: Ever since we built the darkroom together in 11th grade we have been the best of friends. We have grown together and experienced many good and bad times. Your support for me exceeds the expectations of the best of friends and your attitudes are an inspiration to me. I hope to achieve the same attitude of accepting bad things that happen to me and moving on without regret. Your ability to do this - to remain happy - is uncanny and the quality I admire most about you both. Thank you for loosening me up throughout the years and teaching me how to be a friend.
The Bomb-diggity CD Staff: You are a most impressive bunch of knuckleheads. Who knew at last year's elections what a talented group of individuals was being assembled. You handle the responsibility of informing and moving the University community with honor and pride and are responsible for continuing an impressive vision of collegiate journalism. If I become a newspaper man it will be in hopes that I will get to work with people as special, talented, caring and amazing as all of you. Thank you for making my work this year possible and worthwhile.
Sharon: I have come to know you over the past year and gained a respect for you that is immeasurable. I don't know how you cope with so many changing faces; I am having enough trouble dealing with leaving after a few years at the paper. You are a person who I feel really understands how college-age students view the world, and this perspective has made you a friend of everyone at the newspaper. You keep a great thing going in the dungeon of Newcomb Hall basement and share in the responsibility of my success this year.
New Managing Board (better known as those who kicked us out of our desks and stole our keys): Sorry I chained myself to a chair and chanted: "Hell no, we won't go!" I really didn't want to leave. I have every confidence in you. You are fine people, and I forgive you for booting us out of the office. I respect you immensely Tom, Lindsay, John, Michael and Brian.
My Managing Board/my friends: It would be an understatement for me to say that I have a burning love for The Cavalier Daily. I'm not sure how many other Business Managers/Chief Financial Officers caught on fire when discussing important newspaper business - but I did. One night, at a small Italian restaurant, the Managing Board and I were out managing, and my sweater caught on fire. I knew that I was working with a dedicated bunch when they all helped put me out. No, I forgot to stop, drop and roll, but Mike (with a menu) and Emily (with bare hands) patted me down like the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz," Sonia laughed, and Masha prepared to douse me with water. Then, they all laughed at me together and I sat there in shock. I can't remember a time when we all felt closer than that. The paper gave me a chance to catch on fire among friends. The fire of friendship between us will burn forever. Mike, you are an incredibly easygoing wrestling fan. You made my time at U.Va. full and rich and even taught me some new words. You are a great friend and I will always remember talking to you privately in your office. Emily, you are an incredibly strong person with a dedication to your friends that I admire and will pattern myself after for life. Sonia, you are a talented person who realizes perfection as an ideal is important. I can't wait for a ride in your dream car - the Camaro. May all of your dreams come true. Masha, you are a mess, but sharing an office (really partition walls) with you has been an honor. Your appreciation of the world as a big place, with concerns greater than America has taught me to understand myself in a greater context. I love you all as a Managing Board and individually.
When I accepted the position of Business Manager I did not know what to expect. I pledged to do the best job I could, and to try to be the best Business Manager the paper has ever seen. I hope that I fulfilled this goal since I am the last Business Manager there will be. My goal was simple: I wanted to do my year at The Cavalier Daily right. I worked hard every day so that I might live up to this goal. I don't know if I was the best Business Manager ever, but as my term grows farther away every day I am left standing at a distance smiling at the accomplishments of the entire 110th Cavalier Daily staff.
At the final roll party I got up on a creaky fraternity table to address the staff. They all began chanting: "CFO, CFO, CFO." I felt like a leader. I felt liked and appreciated. I cannot get this chant out of my head. The cheering staff left me with a permanent smile of pride and accomplishment and the feeling of a job well done.
I remain humbly yours,
Daniel Cooper
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