Ethan Ramsey

Editor In Chief, Managing Editor, Sports Editor, Asst. Sports EditorFall 2005-Spring 2008

‘The greatest experience is changing someone else’s experience in life. And once you come to that realization, it becomes your foundation, the ace in your pocket, who you are. It’s the opposite of what you think it is. When you see the world through the lens of others, that’s when you find yourself.’ -Andre Agassi

Becker: I owe you more than anyone. Wish I saved your e-mail after my Randy Foye story. It was about writing, pure and simple. I was amazed someone cared that much, and from then on I watched your every move as SE. Still can’t believe I was in your position less than a year later. More than anything, you taught me how to be a leader. I can’t thank you enough. Right is right.

Jared: The night we put out the Sports-only issue said it all. Not only did I finally see you in full, as a designer and EIC, my favorite production ever cemented what I respected most about you: A senior who had done everything still enjoyed learning and teaching every day at The D.O. If I had the same effect on someone that you did on me, all those hours were a success.

Lieber: You easily could’ve told the truth on the bus back from Manley after Quinton Brown didn’t show. You said you were stepping down as SE because it was too time-consuming, omitting the fact you now hated sports. Thanks for lying that day and trusting me with Battle a few weeks later. Glad you’ve found what seems like the perfect job in the perfect place.

Tim: I couldn’t have been more successful professionally and personally in college. Believe it or not, you’re the primary reason for that. First, you’re the one person directly responsible for all four jobs I held at The D.O. Second, I don’t meet Lauren in Buffalo if you hadn’t hired me for ASE or turned down Richmond. Thanks for, well, my entire future. Good luck in the Navy.

ZB: So many anecdotes with you (DePaul preview, News’ whiteboard, anything related to Medina). One stands out – when you called your ‘Sunday Night E-mail’ the highlight of your week. The passion you had for your staff’s work was unparalleled. On a personal note, there isn’t anyone I’d have rather worked, learned and laughed with for two years. All the best.

Gelb: I thought we couldn’t be more similar, and then we instantaneously came up with the same art( idea for a feature story at a 5:30. Many eerie moments for me the last four semesters, but I really don’t think I had too much to do with that. You were meant to be SE from your first week in the office, and it showed every day in your section. Enjoy your freedom next year.

Medina: One day you’re going to blow all of us away. Nine stars, 11 coaches on the hot seat, 15 photos with your own cutlines that are actually sidebars, 18 self-concocted multimedia clips, 39 sources, 15,836 words. And one slow motion-like article on tape. Look out, sports fan. An institution is coming to a city near you.

Schonbrun: Given the current state of TV/radio journalism, you might make it big-time before all of us. Use your column next semester to keep concentrating on your writing. That still means more than anything in this business, and a column is the perfect way to work on your voice. I, for one, can’t wait for Just Le Jus. You might be the best pure writer on campus next year.

Jackie: Courtyard by Marriott, Somewhere Near Rochester, 1 a.m.-You arrive for my opinion on which end quote to use in a story for somelaxsite.com that you drove an hour on your own money to write. Maybe you knew six people would read that line, maybe you didn’t. Either way, you cared not. Told you it would pay off. And guess what? Now I’m learning from you, too.

Levin: Didn’t think I’d see you again after obliterating your first story – er, draft – in my second week as SE, and I certainly never thought I’d see you running a fine section less than two years later. You wrote several of the best stories in the paper this semester, and as a result may have taught rookie staff members more about writing than anyone else. Tear up Tulsa.

Andy: Yeah, that’s right, I put you in with the sports crowd. You’ve earned it. I have one mission for you next year: Write the longest story in The D.O. Ever. Find a topic, report the hell out of it, write at least 10 rough drafts, and you’ll have one extraordinary story. Seriously, you’re the one person who not only can do it but knows the legacy it can have.

Clayton: You’re up to bat. What an incredible semester to be in charge. Do as much as you can during the summer – for The D.O. and maybe even school. Find your landmark enterprise story as well. Sounds daunting, but force yourself to make it happen (Phil Wheddon, anyone?). And if you still have time, help other sections. You’ll be the best journalist at the paper.

Kyle: Pitch a lot of stories at Kalamazoo and the P-S. You’re lucky your first two internships at major dailies will not only be in familiar cities but will be back-to-back. That’s a tremendous opportunity to build on a real successful year at The D.O. I’m excited to see what you can do with more time on your hands.

Diamond: G-Rob should be afraid, very afraid. Don’t let him get away with anything. I’m counting on you to write 2008’s ‘Fire G-Rob’ column after the first game.

Tyler: Read stories besides sports this summer. You’re on the verge of breaking out big time, but I think you need to absorb a greater variety of articles. And watch Clayton’s every move.

Tahmosh: Life better work out for you, man. I feel responsible for basically destroying a year of it. At least I gave you lacrosse and PR.

Rob: I still recall laughing hysterically at the library (library?) reading your Meghan O’Connell ‘competition’ e-mail. What a beat. Thanks for showing me the ropes that semester.

Janela: To this day I can tell which Birdlands you edited – including the three I submitted to SPJ. Your grammar crunching was one reason I won. You were such an underrated editor.

Licker: Thanks for telling me my Onuaku profile sucked. Something clicked that night. You helped me more than you’d think. You wrote some of the most complete stories in the paper that year that I wanted to duplicate some day.

Kilgore: You stunned me at Race ’04 when you congratulated me on Battle. I knew who you were, but I was shocked you knew who I was. I appreciated you reading me and my section.

Chico: I still remember when you e-mailed me for the first time. It started: ‘You don’t know me, but…’ Wrong. I knew you, too. I had been trying to impress all you alumni for months. You were the first to take notice. I’ll never forget that.

Passan: I don’t think I’ll ever impress you, and that’s fine. There’s a great lesson there: Never be satisfied. I hate hearing it, but you’re right, every sentence can be stronger.

The Hack: See you for an encore someday, I’m sure. It was an honor.

Sports staff: You can do things at a college paper you can’t professionally. Take advantage.

—

Mere: You saved the paper so many times that year, and I learned a ton in the process. I’m sure the post-college, post-100-commitments-per-day-life will treat you well.

Sahar: Sorry we never got to that conference. That you seriously wanted to go was impressive enough. Your enthusiasm for sports produced unparalleled pages. And Tim Gorman montages.

Lesley: Voices wasn’t the same without you this semester. Slash neither was the whole P-S. Have a great summer in South Florida. You deserved it in the first place. Oh, and Larry says hi.

A.J.: Thanks for teaching me more about the people side of management. I’m sure you’ll do stunning things in the photo/Web/design wing at The Post.

Erin: You were a much better writer than anyone gave you credit for. Glad we erased that culture here. Never thought you’d survive NYC, but you’ve done awfully well (wink, wink).

Liz: You made living on my own for the first time much easier. Would’ve been different in Buffalo minus the gourmet meals, laundry tips and button repairs. What an apartment you had.

Heather: You were the first to bring more of a CEO feel to EIC. We need more of that.

Swartz: You were all about the product, too, like the night we gladly reworked the Sports front at 5:30. It’ll be a while before I work closely with as talented a pure artist again.

Rob: I recall you telling Becker and I at a party we should binge every Saturday of our lives. I don’t agree with you on a lot of things, but I admire how content you are. Thanks for The Shoe.

Coward: Wish we had you for longer. Your common sense level is sorely needed. Go Pens.

Mel: Your section remains the gold standard for news. Don’t be afraid to speak up about the overall product from the political editor role. The paper needs it.

Reilly: Why you couldn’t you have been news editor at some point? The D.O. would’ve become The New York Times. Alas, thanks for the Chancellor series and the hockey talk.

Susie: I have no idea how you put up with me. Well, actually I do: Cursing. Thanks for designing some of my sections that still hang in my room at home. You could really read a bus. (Yes, that’s supposed to be sexual somehow).

Hannah: Too bad we never built that zipline. Send me some of your sports designs this summer.

Jaimie: I wish every new hire was just like you. Right away you cared so much, felt pressure to improve every day and best of all respected The D.O. at a level it takes most multiple semesters to reach, if they do at all. Good luck with Equal Time. Keep The D.O.’s sports editor sane.

Lindsay: Three words: Coolest. Scarf. Ever.

Heather: You hit a switch midway through the semester. You’re Kenton Stufflebeam’s idol.

Melissa: Jazz Times, baby. Thanks for hanging in there.

Bertolini: Terrific work on the cops beat this semester. Pass it on.

Steph/Shayna/Kelina: Read, read, read this summer. All three of you are real close.

Brian: Great work with the site and good luck. Sadly, it’s the only way I’ll be able to read now.

Evan: Thanks for my duck. I know I’m biased, but it’s one of the best I’ve seen.

Design: What tremendous promise. Not sure how many of you want to go into newspapers, but impressive internships are within reach.

Photo: I know the staff was thin this semester, but there’s a great base for next year. Thanks for making people read our stories. Looking forward to more of that Marantz audio.

Amanda: I’ve been waiting for you for so long. We haven’t had an emerging superstar female with management potential for years. You’ll be hearing a lot from me. Your ‘it’ factor makes me jig with Murderers-type excitement for The D.O.’s future. No pressure or anything.

Erinn: Kutcher told me several times you weren’t asking the right questions or listening to his answers. I decided not to tell you, and sure enough, the profile came back excellent. Trust your writing knowledge next semester – you’ve got plenty. Keep the EIC loose.

Dockery: After one of the long nights at the beginning, you e-mailed me well after we’d all left about wrong headlines online. Didn’t expect to hear that from someone brand new. Your dedication, not to mention leadership and intelligence, can really move this organization forward.

Pete: You’re the backbone of the entire operation. Thanks for everything you do. I’m sure I know 10 percent of it.

Mom, Dad and Caitlin: Thanks for the foundation for making this all possible and for understanding why I’ve been AWOL the last three years. I promise I’ll stay in better touch.

Lauren: In some ways it’s surreal to think I’ve already made the best and most important decision of my entire life. But at the same time, nothing has ever felt as natural as being with you. To know I’ll always have you to hug and kiss in any situation, to know my children will learn from a wonderful mother, to know who I’ll explore the world with, to know my eyes will start and end every day by looking into yours – I can’t help but giggle in anticipation for every moment of forever. As for The D.O., thanks for understanding my obsession with the paper – and the parties hosted by its sports section. I love you, Beautiful.

Goodnight 744,

Ethan Ramsey, SU ’08

Published on April 29, 2008 at 12:00 pm