My first Daily Orange story in the fall of my freshman year took about two months to publish. I still remember freaking out about wasting my opportunity to break through because my high school tennis feature wasn’t working out.

But I did — after months of work — finally get the story published. And I’m so glad that happened. I genuinely don’t know where I’d be without The D.O. and what I’d have done the past three semesters if I wasn’t working in house. Nonetheless, I couldn’t have made it here without meeting so many great people along the way.

***

Nicholas: You are the perfect person to be taking my job. We’ve done some of the craziest things together here, like staying up until 4 a.m. copying UNLV football coverage or playing planes, trains and automobiles trying to get back from Greensboro last spring. Please never change your writing style, I aspire to be able to use some of the words you use as merely a college student one day in my professional career. Text me if you ever need anything, can’t wait to see some of the things you put out next semester.

Harris: Covering MSOC with you has been one of my most fun experiences at the D.O. My goal coming into this season was to produce content the beat had never seen before, and I think we accomplished that. Thanks for enduring my yapping during coverages as well. While I wish our Cary trip hadn’t flamed out, it all worked out in the end.

Jordan: I feel like everyone has said this, but the fact you worked in house as a first-semester freshman is still mind boggling to me. Your writing has absolutely skyrocketed since you got here as well, and I’m looking forward to what you can do in the next 2.5 years. Oh, and sorry for making you order Chipotle and forgetting to pay you every week.

Mauricio: Oh, Mauricio. I have a lot of thoughts. First and foremost, I appreciated your dedication to every story you edited this semester, especially mine. Even though I thought you were going to absolutely massacre my Mac story in Week 5 when you learned it was sticking as A1. I still don’t truly understand your fascination with Choolaah that makes you rush everyone out everyday to get it, but maybe I’ll actually try it one day.

Quinn: The Postman has delivered this semester. I appreciate everything you’ve done, from your detailed graphic pitches to immense commitment to the Vanderbosch story. I still wish you’d spent a little more time in the actual sports room, but I never succeeded in convincing you there. Also, some things I had to get off my chest — 1. Keep the music down at night/during interviews. 2. Don’t hog the TV. And 3. Stop yelling at 8 a.m. because of soccer. Either way, I can’t wait for next year.

Henry: I love how I’ve gotten to know you more this semester. When we met last spring to discuss moving over to sports, I thought I’d have to convince you. I was thrilled I didn’t have to say much at all. I know it took some time to adjust to covering a sports beat and our hectic coverage schedule, but you’ve handled it perfectly. I’ll miss our Shaw runs, but I can’t wait for NYC!

Spencer: I remember when I first hired you, you sent me copy questions nearly every day. It genuinely reminded me of myself from last fall. I know you may have thought you were bothering me, but I appreciated how dedicated and on top of things you’ve been this semester. The result? You’ll do great on dig.

Jason: “That was painful.” That was my first impression of you on copy after you read Bishop Grimes on Duck Night last April. I’ll admit I was a bit wary. But you’ve come such a long way since then, and I think your writing has improved immensely. The rowing pipeline lives.

Justin: I think I grew the most working as an assistant for you. I learned nearly everything I know about editing to this day from last spring, including some A reads that I probably questioned why you were giving to me at the time. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know you more in class this semester…it’s certainly been an interesting experience (iykyk).

Cooper: You’ve told me a million times you should’ve hired me in the spring of my freshman year, but I honestly think your decision was valid. I definitely wasn’t ready. But I appreciate you seeing enough in me to stick me on women’s rowing and later to tell me last February that I was going to be Sports Editor. I also appreciated all your hard work and patience as I adjusted to being a head ed.

Aiden: Covering WLAX with you last spring opened my eyes to what I should be doing on a beat. While looking back my stories weren’t my best work, I think that experience influenced me a lot in the last few months. You’re also one of the most prepared writers I’ve ever met, and that was incredibly helpful all semester.

Zak: I cannot express enough how thankful I am for you hiring me last fall. Looking back at some of my rowing stories, I genuinely have no clue what I was doing, but being on copy completely changed my writing skills. I also remember thinking I had to copy immediately when a story got sent to me, so apologies for the numerous frantic texts I sent you about that. Also please learn AP Style lol.

Matt: MATTY WICE, I feel like I’ve been on a beat with you nearly every semester. Not sure what the future holds, but it was a pleasure. Also, you might be the biggest WICE fan in existence and I love that.

Timmy: I’m really glad you found your niche here and that we could run the football recruiting beat back this fall. WBB was fun too, just don’t ask FLJ about “Winners get Washed” again…

Kev Lu: The goat. Really enjoyed joking around with you in Gitner’s class last semester and glad you’re enjoying your time at Northwestern.

Peter/Fiona: Really glad both of you were interested in doing copy. It may not be the most fun thing in the world at times, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Hope to see you both next year.

Rose: It was a pleasure getting to know you and talk ball (MSOC) with you this semester. I vividly remember watching SU play Colgate with you and stressing about whether my McIntyre story would stay A1. I also think you read nearly every one of my stories this fall, and you made all of them better. I know you and Kendall had concerns about not understanding how sports worked initially, but you worked past that quickly and made my job so much easier.

Kendall: You are the best EIC I could’ve asked for during my time as a head ed. Whenever I had a problem or even wanted to just chat about something, you were always eager to do so, even if it was something so minimal. Similar to Rose, I love how you picked up everything in sports so quickly and I can’t express enough how helpful that was. Unfortunately you’ll have to find someone else to get you Shaw brownies now.

Jimmy: You scared me with some of your ideas early on, I’m not gonna lie. But as the semester went on, I can confidently say you improved so much. I don’t know how you stay alive (probably Diet Coke), but I hope you can rest a bit in your final semester.

Griffin: I admittedly had no clue who you were until like August, but I’m glad to have met you. What you’ve done with the Instagram, especially reviving the sports account, is incredible. Let’s get to 20K by May!

Leo: Leooooooo! You made my life 100x easier this semester — thank you so much for that. I really enjoyed your trips to the sports room to hang out every night. I also think I spent quality time in vis for the first time ever this fall and that was because of you. Maybe we can finally go on a trip together next year.

Delia: Corner 3 for news! (I blame Henry for ruining that). I genuinely don’t think I’d ever stepped foot in news before this semester, and I found myself sitting in there with you guys at odd hours nearly every week. Sorry if I ever bothered you. I’m glad we got to know each other more this semester, and I wish you all the best.

Mia: Never thought I’d write a culture story this semester, but here we are. Thanks for bearing with me through the editing process of that one. You also put out so much cool content in culture this semester, I feel like every week I saw something go crazy on Instagram. You should be really proud.

Savannah: I admittedly didn’t come to Op much this semester. But the fact that you ran the section so smoothly as only a sophomore is crazy.

Ilana/Sophia: First off, I want to formally apologize for all the collages. That was certainly not my finest moment as Sports Editor. Regardless though, you guys absolutely cooked on all of them (totally unbiased, but McIntyre and Tajon were my favorites). To see where you guys have come from after literally being the only two designers in April to now leading an absolutely incredible section is crazy and that’s a testament to both of you.

Joe: I never had to worry when you were covering a game. Keep doing what you’re doing. Glad to see you in the house a bit this semester, too.

Ave/Addie/Caroline/Lily: You are all such great people, and you all killed it on both photo and design this year. Thanks for making vis a fun place to be all semester.

Davis: You need anything? It’s my pleasure to finally ask that to you, Davis. I don’t know how many times I had a stupid WordPress or tech problem (like my email breaking) and you fixed it in two seconds. Please go relax a bit, you deserve it.

Matt/Elyas: Thanks for bearing with me the last 1.5 years. Sorry for all the “I can’t come because I’m working” texts. But thank you for at least somewhat understanding when I had to stay up until some ridiculous hour or leave a game early to post a story. Looking forward to senior year!

Mom/Dad: Thanks for always believing in me. I don’t know if everything I’ve done over the past year and a half has made sense to you, but your constant support kept me level headed. I should be able to return your texts at a more reasonable time now.

Published on December 11, 2025 at 1:24 am
Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu | @Noahnuss99