I STILL remember the first day I worked at The Cavalier Daily. I even still remember the title of my first article: "Faculty work for Judaic major."
When I entered the University, the Jewish Studies major still was in the planning stages. Today, the Jewish Studies Program will host a graduation ceremony for its majors.
When I entered the University, I was a little uptight, shy and had never danced a step in my life. Today, I consider myself to be more open-minded, more outgoing and perhaps even a decent dancer.
People change, institutions change. I credit the following people with helping me become a better person over the past four years:
My friends: Mike, Jeff and Chris, who helped me realize and accept an important part of myself. Luke, Matt, James, Greg, Cari, Greg, Kevin, Kim and Esti, a fun group of people to know and hang out with. I will remember our trips to D.C., phone calls, LJ, e-mails, IMs, etc. It is a wonder I had any time to do any work at all.
The Cavalier Daily: What a wonderful organization to become involved with. I have always been happy Lindsay Wise chose me to be an associate news editor four years ago. Thanks to Margaret Chipowsky and Katie Dalton for being two great news editors. To my co-associate editors, especially Abby, who made being in the basement fun. Thanks to Sam Le for being a model managing editor to work under, and to my excellent co-editor Christine Buurma. Thanks also go to the many, many people I met and worked with during my three years and three positions.
Professors: To Mr. O'Brien who helped to kindle my interest in the Supreme Court and constitutional law my first semester and for serving as my thesis advisor this past year. To Mr. Moomaw for helping me rethink my stance on the First Amendment and grow to appreciate it. And a special thanks to Professors Kromkowski, Mershon, Waldner and Sofka.
To Mr. Elzinga for causing me to make "the dismal science" my second major at the University. Another thanks to Mr. Elzinga for helping me realize antitrust law actually is pro-competition and not anti-business.
Thanks also go to Mr. O'Connell for restoring my interest in astronomy.
The University: What a great place to spend four years. I think I never really appreciated how nice U.Va. was until I visited other colleges. The hype may just be genuine; U.Va. really is one of the nicest places to study. Charlottesville, although lacking the excitement of a big city, also is a nice place to live.
I give mixed reviews to our Honor system. After living in a community of trust for four years, I sensed culture shock when I started touring potential law schools. At other schools, I faced belligerent security guards who would only let me see their libraries if I handed over my license, my eternal soul and my firstborn child. I had never before realized how open our Grounds truly were.
But, on the other hand, I hope the Honor system will stop being in denial about the culture of cheating that exists in large lecture classes.
Overall, the University has been a great place to spend the last four years, and I hope will be a great place to spend three more years in law school.
(Michael Loatman was a 2002 news editor and a 2001 nation/world editor.)
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