Three months into my Duke career, I knew I wanted two things from the college experience: I wanted a national championship, and I wanted to be head line monitor. Although I've arrived at the desired destination, I have to laugh when I look back at the steps and missteps along the journey.
When I came to Duke, working for The Chronicle was the last thing on my mind-all I cared about was having a core group of friends, being a Cameron Crazie and passing my classes. One Sunday night early freshman year there was a message on my answering machine to call Jess at The Chronicle about a story. My first assignment was about the head of the Career Development Center leaving for Harvard. I did it as a lark, something that was fun and different, something I'd never do again.
I can't say I was instantly hooked on The Chronicle; it was a slow, yet inevitable process, like a tide coming in to shore. One story a month became one story a week, and before I knew it, I was swimming against the current. Fast-forward two years: My commitment had grown exponentially. My junior year was filled with long days and nights at 301 Flowers. I was well-aware of the sacrifices inherent in Chronicle leadership-it hurt every time I canceled dinner plans or spent another evening editing a story instead being a student. I was angry and felt cheated by the organization. But as my Chronicle tide flowed out to sea this academic year, I really began to appreciate how much I treasured this experience.
Corporate trainers would salivate at the opportunity to study Chronicle culture. Why do volunteer students-many of whom have only a passing interest in journalism-sacrifice so much in the name of this organization, often under stressful and unhappy circumstances?
Well, I could give you some bull about wanting to make a difference, or learning about myself, or taking on challenges. But the truth is, even when you want to kill your fellow staffers, The Chronicle is fun.
The Chronicle is functional only through its dysfunctionality. It is inherently unexplainable to those who have never sat through a four-hour editboard or an endless editing shift. What makes us come back is the characters, the personalities, the stress and the conflict. There is no group of people at Duke I have more respect for; no group works harder, no group cares more.
Hello, my name is Norm, and I'm a Chronicleholic.
I guffaw anytime I'm referred to as a "DSG official," because in my heart, I will always be a Chronicle staffer. That's not meant as an insult to the many kind-hearted, hard-working DSG staffers I know. I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to my boss, Jordan Bazinsky, who had the confidence to hand me the keys to K-ville despite my ties to a board that endorsed his competition and embarrassed his campaign by mismanaging a letter from the basketball program that I wanted to work with-ironic, huh?
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all the people who camped out and came to games this year-it has been a privilege working with you. The few bad days were usually caused by middle-aged Durham officials who acted like 12-year-olds. January and February were two of the greatest months of my life, and I did my best to make as many of you as happy as possible.
Being head line monitor should never be about power trips and special perks, just as being a tenter should never be about waiting in Brownstone or cutting in line. You shouldn't be there to work the system, you should be there because you want to be part of something special. In many ways, K-ville isn't even about basketball-it's about community.
There are so many things that divide us here at Duke: Black or white, greek or independent, Pratt or Trinity, sober or alcoholic, active or indifferent. It saddens me to see so many people spending their days lamenting these unavoidable divides. That's why I love Duke basketball-for three hours at a time, people check these group identities at the door to root for the home team and enjoy their experience.
There will always be problems at Duke, and I laud the efforts of students and administrators who spend their days trying to cleanse our garden of weeds. But if you are actively looking for weeds, you will always find some more work to be done. Much more importantly, you won't have any time left to enjoy the flowers that your labors have produced.
I've shared with you my two goals, but I've come to realize that we should all strive for something much more important-we are teenagers in a Gothic playpen. Don't forget to smile.
Norm Bradley is a Pratt senior, former editorial page editor of The Chronicle, current senior associate sports editor and-until about 7 p.m. tonight-Duke Student Government head line monitor.
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