Royal Purple

Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski Senior Royal Purple editors Sarah Millard, Sara Siekierski, Matt Cullen, Elise Sommerfeldt, Cherome Owens, and Nicole Trotta

Sara Siekierski - Arts & Entertainment Editor

I started out at the Royal Purple just last semester as a staff writer for the Arts and Lifestyle section. Only a semester later, I was given the opportunity to be the editor for the brand new Arts & Entertainment section. I have to admit that I was scared out of my mind to take on this position with no real experience behind me, but I look back now and I'm amazed at how far I've come. I hope you, the students, faculty, and Whitewater citizens, have enjoyed reading the Arts & Entertainment section.

My time as the A&E editor has certainly taught me a lot, and I'm incredibly appreciative of the opportunity I was given. I feel as though I've come a long way during this semester, and I owe it all to the wonderful group of people that helped me along the way. Thank you to all of my fellow RP staff for a wonderful semester! I honestly could not have made it this far without you guys. All of you have made this semester one of my best. Leaving all of you is like leaving family, and I will miss each and every one of you. Good luck to the seniors who are graduating and the others who will continue their hard work at the paper.

Thank you to Sam Martino for all of your guidance over my last couple of years at UW-Whitewater. You are an excellent professor and advisor to this paper. I'm a better journalist because of you.

I also owe a special thank you to my assistant editor, Danielle Calkins. I probably don't thank you enough for all that you do. This section wouldn't be half of what it is without all of your help and creativity. I have truly enjoyed working with you this semester and will miss you. I have no doubt A&E will only continue to get better under your leadership.

Thank you to all of the faculty and staff who graciously worked with me this semester to help find new story ideas and put the writers in touch with various people. My goal as A&E editor was to feature as many students and faculty in the arts as possible. I appreciate all of the help in achieving my goal.

The Royal Purple is an outstanding newspaper, and I am so proud to say I have been a part of it. This paper only continues to get better, and I'm excited to see how it will grow in the future.



Cherome Owens - Sports Editor

After starting with the Royal Purple as just a staff writer my sophomore year with no experience in the journalism industry whatsoever, I would have never thought I would become the sports editor.

I probably wouldn't even be writing if it weren't for Sam Martino. The first day I met him during an advising session, he was yelling at me about not having any newspaper clips to show future employers. I remembered him telling me, "How do you expect to be a sportswriter if you don't have any clips published?" Then he forced me to go see the sports editor at the time and get some work done.

I want to thank the two Matts. Matt Colby, thanks a lot for putting so much pressure on me by giving me an assignment the first day I stepped into the Royal Purple office. And Matt Cullen, thanks for allowing me to be your assistant for a year and moving down to allow me to boss you around a little as head sports editor for a semester. The entire Royal Purple staff was friendly and made it a safe environment for me to work around. Jeremy Pink and Brandon Gorman, good luck to you guys next year … oh, and Cullen, I hope to see you on ESPN yacking off at the mouth like Stephen A. Smith in the future.

Andre Douglas and Alfred Parchia, thanks for helping me become the leader I am today. If it weren't for you guys, as well as the entire Brother-2-Brother organization, I probably would just be a staff writer. You two gave me the confidence to apply for higher positions and not be a follower.

Demetrius Klyce, you're super weird, but thanks for hanging around with me. LeQuez Spearman, you're not from New York, and you're not half-Dominican, but I appreciate your transportation to the bars. My former big stinky roommate, longtime friend and college dropout Johnnie Newsom.

Thanks to all professors in the communication department for helping me enhance my writing skills.

Last, but not least, I want to thank my parents. I love you. You made such a perfect baby into a grown man. Thanks to my entire family, both sides, the Owens' and the Waheeds, for caring about me so much. I appreciate everyone in the development of the best sports editor UW-Whitewater has ever seen, Cherome Daurice Owens.



Matt Cullen - Assistant Sports Editor

In the summer of 2006, an unsure but curious 19-year-old sports fan walked into the Drumlin Hall, took a quick left, and entered the tiny closet known as the Royal Purple editorial office for the first time. He had signed up to be the publication's Assistant Sports Editor, and thought the position would be easy and enjoyable. Boy, how I was wrong.

It's hard for me to try and sum up the whirlwind the last two years at the Royal Purple has been. As good of a writer as I think I am, I can't possibly condense all of the experiences, memories and stories I've accumulated working in 102 Drumlin Hall and 66 University Center. This article can't account for the all the 1 a.m. nights putting the sports section together, the all-nighter I spent in the office my first semester, and the immense amount of pride I feel every Wednesday when a new edition of Royal Purple hits newsstands all across campus.

However, my final article for this publication isn't meant to reminisce about my own thoughts. There's a time and place 20 years from now for those stories. Rather, there are many important people and individuals I need to thank for helping me develop and grow into the journalist I am today.

First, a huge thank-you is in order for UW-Whitewater Director of Athletics Paul Plinske and Sports Information Director Tom Fick. Both of these individuals have been incredibly generous with their time and have always helped me to the best of their ability.

A special thank-you to the Warhawk football program, especially head coaches Bob Berezowitz and Lance Leipold. Your time and ease of access has been immensely appreciated and has made covering the football team one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had while at UW-Whitewater.

Thanks also go out to Tom Pattison and Jeff Seisser, two professionals who helped me cover Warhawk football the last two seasons. Whether it was photos from away games, learning the latest news and updates, or their assistance with the last two national championship games, I wouldn't have been able to do as good of a job without their help.

Thank you to the athletes and coaches who have been gracious enough to sit through an interview with me: Derek Stanley, Justin Jacobs, Ryan Kleppe, Justin Beaver, Danny Jones, Rob Perry, Matt Goodwin, Pat Miller, John Vodenlich, Tim Fader, and Frank Barnes.

While the athletes and coaches have seen me from time to time, one group has had the pleasure (or more appropriately, the misfortune) of putting up with me almost every day, and it's the staff of the Royal Purple. I don't think a more talented, dedicated, or hard-working group of individuals exists.

I would be ashamed of myself if I didn't acknowledge the Royal Purple's advisor, Sam Martino. While we've clashed many times on what I should be covering to how long my stories should be, I know you have prepared me as well as anyone to be successful in this frantic, hectic world of journalism.

I also would kick myself if I didn't thank James Debilzen, Kevin Hoffman and Nicole Trotta, the three editor-in-chiefs I have worked under at the Royal Purple. Their support and encouragement has not only improved my writing, but also improved the quality of the newspaper as a whole.

And, of course, my gratitude goes out to all the editors and staff who I've labored side-by-side with for the last two years. I wish I could name everyone, but I know my space is short and Martino's already going to have three-fourths of this article cut anyway. However, know that I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to work with each and every one of you.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to the readers of the Royal Purple. Thank you for reading all of the articles I have written in the last two years. Thank you for the words of encouragement, and thank you to my critics as well. Both groups have motivated me to strive for better writing and better stories. Thanks for preparing me for the real world.

While I had no idea what I was getting myself into two years ago, I wouldn't trade any of the late nights, the long days or the hours upon hours spent crafting stories or layouts. The ­­­ will remain with me long after my time at this university is finished.



Sarah Millard - News Editor

I was 17 when I first walked through the doors of the Royal Purple office. As a senior in high school, I had only the slightest idea of what journalism was and why I wanted to major in the field. I met Samuel Clifford Martino there that day, and I owe a lot to him.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Martino for everything he has done for the newspaper. He has pushed and prodded us to reach our best potential. He has pushed us to advance the paper online, which is a growing newspaper industry.

The hardest part about graduation is leaving my friends. I accepted a position at the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, and although I am excited to start my new job, I am going to miss my friends at the Royal Purple. I will miss the inside jokes, the Monday night caffeine intakes and hugs on bad days, such as when Brett Favre retired.

Brandon Gorman, Jeremy Pink, Evan Finch, Karri Duerwachter, Elise Sommerfeldt, Abi Naumann, Danielle Calkins, Sara Siekierski, Nou Thao, Alison Wisneski, Joy Kowald, Matt Cullen, Cherome Owens and Shane Brossard, you have become my family away from home. Spending hours in the newsroom has given me insight into each of your lives. I know that each of you are going to have a successful career, and I wish you luck with the future.

Finally, I had to keep Sarah Kloepping and Jerica Harvey separate from the list. I love you, ladies. I wish you the best luck with the news section. I will never forget the fun times we have had - making dinosaur faces at the Mall of America, following Jerica around Green Bay without her even knowing it, dancing to "apple bottom jeans" and eating corn dogs. Sarah and Jerica have been my rocks this semester, and I wouldn't have made it without them.

Oh, and thank you Favre for a great 16 years.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools