There was never a dull moment during my time at the Daily Orange. My first semester in-house began after someone quit, and I was hired to work for a section I had no experience in.

I spent my first week just catching up, and when I wrote my first story, I didn’t want to turn it in because I was scared of how bad it was.

Now, 113 bylines, three semesters and one photo with Kathy Hochul later — it’s hard to believe that it all went by so fast. Sometimes it was a bit of a rollercoaster with all of the ups and downs I experienced here, but it helped me grow and develop into the writer and person I am today.

This isn’t a full goodbye. Instead, this is a see you later, and my appreciation for everyone and all the time we spent together at 230 Euclid.

Dominic Chiappone: The first time we spoke changed my life. If it wasn’t for your kindness and willingness to help me, I never would have been hired during my first semester on campus. Thank you for your help with my start at Syracuse and the Daily Orange, and hopefully I see you in New York City and at future Lollapaloozas.

Quinn Postman: They say the Postman doesn’t deliver on Sundays, but there wasn’t a day we shared at the D.O. that you didn’t come through. From all the time I’ve spent with you doing D.O. work at Bird Library to all of the graphics and Instagram posts we cooked up together, it feels like I’ve worked with you for much longer than just one semester. Even when there were days when my computer failed, or I couldn’t understand our templates, you were there to help me and pick up the slack. In every interaction, you’re one of the most authentic people I’ve ever met, and I’m excited to see what your future at the D.O. holds. I can’t wait to be your roommate next year and thank you for everything we did this semester. Good luck in London, mate.

Delia Rangel: Where do I begin? After three semesters together, from late print nights to working ourselves into the ground as assistants, it’ll be strange not to walk into the office and just be able to talk to you. Our conversations flow so easily — you’re the first person I come to if I need an honest opinion — and it feels like there’s nothing I can’t share with you. I’m incredibly proud of everything that you’ve accomplished on the news desk and how you’ve stepped up to the challenge of being News Editor, which is a testament to how strong you are as a person. Please stay in touch, and know that I’ll always support you no matter where you go.

Noah Nussbaum: Our Shaw runs were one of the highlights of my semester. You helped me make a seamless transition into sports with your patience and confidence in me, and all of the best stories I’ve written during my time at the D.O. have come under you. Your flexibility and ability to make the best of every bad situation made you a great Sports Editor, and I can always go to you if I need an answer to any of my many questions. I’m looking forward to spending my semester in New York City with you, and I’m glad to call you one of my closest friends. Yay!

Griffin Uribe Brown: What a wild semester it’s been. Before we started working together, I knew you as the guy who liked my LinkedIn posts. Now, I’m leaving the D.O. with you as one of my best friends and someone who’s quickly become one of my role models. Your guidance has helped me expand to working in areas of the newspaper that I didn’t think I’d ever get to explore, and I wish we had more time together. We’ll always have our front page, and thank you for your ability to see the humor in anything. I know the dig section is in great hands with you as its next DME.

Jimmy Hoagland: Great kid. Great mustache too. I didn’t realize how close we’d become when we started hanging out in opinion together, but it’s been an unforgettable experience working as your dig editor. You always knew when I was having an off day and knew just what to say to get me through it. I’m constantly impressed by your ability to communicate with anyone and instantly connect with them, and I’m going to miss all the spontaneous laughs we shared in the business room. I’m also going to miss hooping with you, so we have to go out with a bang and win the Media Cup this year.

Rose and Kendall: The workplace environment that you created this semester is the best one that I’ve ever been a part of. Kendall, your ability to balance all the stress of being editor-in-chief while remaining positive amazes me more every day. To Rose, I couldn’t think of a better person to lead this paper with Kendall. Even if it’s unforgivable that you’re an Arsenal fan, it was great talking ball with you this semester. Thank you both for hiring me and helping me grow as a writer.

Sophia Burke: I’m sad we only became friends this semester. You’re one of the hardest-working people I know, and you are the backbone of the dig room. I never would have been able to make the graphics I did without your help and patience, and all of our late nights at Bird Library will remain part of my core Syracuse memories long after I graduate. Regardless of where you end up, I’m glad I got to work with you at the D.O., and 感谢你成为我的朋友!

Harris, Jordan and Mauricio: The Johnsons! Harris, your sense of humor is elite, and your idea for our Halloween costumes produced one of my favorite D.O. memories. Jordan, you were the glue that kept sports together this semester, and I knew my story was in good hands every time you edited it. Mauricio, your creativity is unmatched, and I trust you’ll do great things with ezgif.com. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the future of sports individually, and thank you for making my adjustment into a new section easier. I can’t wait to see what new heights you guys take sports to.

Spencer and Jason: There’s no one I trust more to take over the sports dig section. To Spencer, my field hockey brethren, I’m glad I covered my first beat with you. You always have a smile on your face, and you’ve already taken major strides as a reporter this year. Jason, it’s been refreshing to see you overcome every challenge you’ve faced at the D.O. Your volleyball stories were some of my favorite to pitch graphics for this semester, and there are big things in store for your future. Know that I’ll be rooting for both of you in all of your future endeavors!

Duncan Green: Coming in as a transfer, all I wanted was to make friends, and you were one of my first at Syracuse. Whether it was sports or just about life, our talks helped me get through some of my lowest points at the D.O. We went through the trenches together, but came out the other side stronger, and I’m proud of everything we accomplished in news together. I miss you, brother, and it’s hard to believe you’re over 5,000 miles away as I write this.

Shivika Gupta: Through our two semesters together, I’m glad we’ve remained close. Your ability to learn on the fly and pick up the D.O. style so quickly was impressive, and your energy helped keep the newsroom’s spirit up on late nights. Your future might be in politics, but just remember me when you make it as a big-time politician in D.C. and don’t bot around and forget me during your semester there.

Madeline Goodheart: During our three semesters together in-house, your sense of humor was infectious, and you’ve always been someone I can count on. I’ll never forget how you bamboozled me for Secret Santa, and know that you are one of the most caring people I’ve ever met. Best of luck in London, and thank you for always making me laugh and keeping the newsroom happy.

Savannah Grunmeier: You’ve been a true voice of reason in the house during our time at the D.O. together. As Opinion Editor, it’s a quality that you embodied, and I’m still struck by your wit and dry humor. I’m so glad we got to connect last semester, and I hope you remember we were friends once you move on to bigger and better things than the D.O.

Mia and Eliana: Thank you for both introducing me to culture this year. Mia, you always put up with all of my Slack questions and were patient with my first columns. Even though you won’t be at SU next semester, good luck in all your future endeavors! To Eliana, your kind messages during edits on my stories always brought a smile to my face, and I’m excited to see where you take culture next semester.

Leo and Ave: Thank you for always welcoming me into vis. Leo, your sports photos are incredible, and I’m glad we got closer this semester with our talks in the sports room. Ave, we shared some unforgettable coverages together, even when they got canceled. With you as the next Photo Editor, your section is in great hands, even if those hands might be caught with a street sign now and then.

Kate Jackson: Kate “Nicolas Jackson” Jackson. You were so patient when going through all of my first stories at the D.O., and helped me edit my first articles when I moved up to assistant. Your allegiance to Chelsea and Philly sports teams is questionable, but I can look past it. Thank you for all of the laughs we shared during our time together in-house.

Roxanne Boychuk: My original copy partner in crime. Thank you for always being patient with all of my mistakes and bringing me up to speed so quickly. I wish we got to work in-house together more, but I’m grateful for the time we did spend together, and I hope you’re enjoying your well-deserved retirement.

Justin Girshon: My first real sports features were under you. Before I got into sports, I was always inspired by your writing, and it helped lead me to my position in sports this semester. Thank you for doing the rough reads on my first sports stories. Let’s win the Media Cup this year!

Davis Hood: Your official role at the D.O. might have been IT Manager, but you always went above and beyond that title during our time together in-house. Thank you for all the meals we shared in Ernie Davis, and it’s been a pleasure to call you my friend. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the future.

Joe Zhao: Your happiness was infectious every night we spent in the office together. Thank you for putting up with all of my crazy graphic requests, and I appreciate all the time you spent cleaning up our mistakes in our deks and editing my faulty photos when I was in news.

Brycen Pace: Thank you for making all the coverages we worked on together better. Your ability to navigate from topic to topic made every conversation interesting, and you were always willing to listen to whatever I wanted to talk about. Let’s hoop sometime!

Julia, Stephanie and Cooper: Thank you for taking a chance on a random transfer from SUNY Buffalo. Without your help, I never would have made it to where I am at the D.O. today or into Newhouse. Julia, your ability to take on any story and handle the stress of being News Editor always impressed me. Stephanie and Cooper, it was an honor to work under both of you, and I’m glad I was a small part of your story at Syracuse and at the D.O.

Fall ‘24 News Staff: You welcomed me with open arms. Our fall ‘24 staff was a little family, and it’s one that I was grateful I could be a part of. I’ll never forget my beginnings at the D.O., and a year later, I still look back on our time together fondly.

Spring ‘25 News Staff: It was a pleasure to work with all of you. It wasn’t always easy, but we relied on each other and shared lots of laughs along the way. Thank you all for all your hard work and commitment to the newsroom!

Fall ‘25 Digital Staff: I had no idea what I was doing when I walked into my first dig meeting or when I pitched my first graphic. A semester later, and the dig meetings and the little family we created were some of my best moments at the D.O. Thank you to everyone for their hard work, and you all played a role in our Instagram and social media taking flight this semester.

Mom, Dad, David, Rebecca and my family and friends: Thank you for putting up with me and supporting me through all of the ups and downs. From now on, I promise not to leave meals early to pitch scorecards or stress you out on the phone about my latest bylines. Nothing I accomplished at the D.O. would have been possible without you, and I’m looking forward to going to bed earlier and spending more time with you. I love you all.

—

It feels wrong leaving the place I’ve learned to call my second home, but it’s on good terms.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you again to everyone who’s impacted my life at the D.O., and for all of the memories.

Sincerely,
DaleyOrange

Published on December 12, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Contact Henry: hdaley@syr.edu | @henrydaleyy