Over my deadline and over word count. Oh well. I guess I’ll have to keep my intro just like my Daily Orange tenure — short and sweet.

As I wrap up my junior year, highlighted by a plummeting GPA and effervescent D.O. shenanigans, I want to share that despite it all, I am so proud of myself.

I am proud of every news package, every Greek life write-up, every cut story and every missed SU event. Because for once in my life, I have cultivated a portfolio of important, directly impactful work that has shown that I am capable of change in this world. The rest of this duck will be how so many other people have allowed me to do that. But what I must remember, for my sake, is that such a part of this pride is my own doing. I am so proud of you, Brenne.

Now that I’ve put that likely-to-be cringe message out into the world, I want to take the opportunity to highlight all of the people who have made my time at The D.O. great.

To my news staff, you all have supported me in ways unparalleled to anything I have experienced before. Without the constant support of you all, we would have never produced the work I, personally, am so proud of. You all will receive my messages first:

Chloe: When Delia hired me last spring, I had never been to the newsroom in person. I’ve never considered myself to be a socially anxious person before, but something about the culture and undeniably intense nature of the newsroom intimidated me. You, however, were and will always continue to be my guiding light. Whether it be bonding over our high school nicotine addictions on sophomore late-night trolley rides back to South Campus or drunkenly airing out my romantic escapades in the crying closet, you have proven to me, and so many others in the news room, to be welcoming, strong and so incredibly smart! You are one of the hardest-working and focused people I know, and I know you’ll get that Fulbright. I love you. You are one of my strongest staffers, and I hope, someone I can call a friend for a long time. Your impact on the newsroom is undeniable — never forget that.

Arabella: You’ve been my friend since freshman year, and there is nobody else I’d want to take over for me as news editor. You are endlessly passionate and deep. Whether it be persisting with 75-year-old sources to call you back on one of my infamous 10-day deadlines or seeing you light up when you got your first faculty news tip, your enthusiasm and love for the craft are what will make you shine in this position. ALWAYS know that I will be here for you — but rest assured the duties of Greek life writeups and faculty newsrot will be yours from now on. Your energy and love for people are present in everything you do, and you will take this section to amazing heights. In many ways, you already have. I will cherish our amazingly politically incorrect inside jokes and remember: we do this, NOT this. Just let me know if she is bothering you, okay? I love you. Flag it!

Viv: You are like one of my favorite people ever. This semester I have been unable to unlock so much more of you both as a reporter and as a lil freak. You are so funny and I love your fuckass attitude — I’ll always miss a famous Viv Collins signature eyeroll. Seeing you develop your craft and excitement for stories like lawsuit and NYPIRG made my heart flutter — in so many ways, you remind me of me last semester — hungry to cover drama and eager to learn. You’ve developed in so many ways this semester and I have no doubt you’ll teach Ryan and Mirren well. Let us run into each other at Pike Blucy’s night soon.

Laura: So many people claim you as their daughter, but I, in my own right, will adopt you as my journalism child. Like I tell Sophie Davis all the time, I can’t talk about Laura Lemgruber without breaking down into tears. You make me so proud constantly, and having you both at HOL 111 and in the newsroom is a testament to how much I trust you and your ability to capture the world through your eyes. You’re seamlessly expressive and rigid in your reporting, and have grown so much in the time I’ve had to gut your first Jerk opinion piece to write one of the best profiles I’ve seen about Emily and Max. You’re a gem, Laura, and I’m sorry to see you go. But trust that we will collab soon — whether it be on a night of mischief at our favorite place on earth (you know.) or taking on another Jabiden-style cobyline. I adore you, you’re the world to me.

Remi: Oh, Rem Rem. You’re a hoot. When you first came in for your first byline last semester, your voice in your writing stood out — and soon I’d learn your voice in the newsroom too, even if it sounds JUST like Chloe’s. While I look to you as an extremely reliable staffer who is willing to take anything from an accidental religion/Hendricks beat to the most confusing and concept writeups out there, I also look to you as who I aspire to be. Your ability to care so much about the people you write about is something every journalist should learn, and not in the way that can be taught in class. Literally one of the best reporters I’ve ever seen. Thanks for battling the number 1 Al’s Wine and Whisky villain, Trevor, with me, and good luck on all your future endeavors. I hope one day we can bump purses in Manhattan with big girl journalism jobs together. I love you.

Priya: You are going to do amazing things. You are one of the most hard working people I have ever met — if I don’t see you getting your stuff done quickly and carefully in the news room, you’re at Bird with a Pages bagel in hand and locked TF in. While I’m mad that UMich is taking you, and Kent Syverud, away from us, I have no doubt you will go on to shine wherever you choose to go. You are endlessly funny and adorable and I’ve cherished the time we spent together this semester. Please keep me updated on all of your adventures!

Owen: The Big O, a nickname I will forever trademark. You are such a rising star. I’ve never met a reporter so excited about AI and tech, something that many in our field shy away from in their pursuit of purism. Thanks for carrying the load on our Micron story, I know I was begging you for a picture with it as soon as the print issue came out. But seriously — your dedication to the stories you care about is what makes you an amazing reporter. I have no doubt that you will go on to do big things under Arabella’s direction and beyond.

Kendall: You were the first news editor I took a story under, and for so, so many reasons that could be a 1,500-word document of their own, are the best person to work under at the end of my term at The D.O. Talk about a full-circle moment. I will forever miss the work we deliberated, our 2 a.m. lock-in reads on my boldly-worded ESF enterprise pieces and, of course, the magical moment where you convinced me it’s OK to withdraw from my first class. I respect you in ways that go beyond words, and I cannot wait to watch your flourish this summer at the FT. I hope I can be you when I grow up.

Rose: We don’t talk about it enough, but in many ways, I should attribute your recruitment for my time at the D.O. I have to admit, when you emailed me offering a position on your culture staff after I came in doing a lousy-ass job with a pompous attitude over a story about an exhibition at Petit Branch Library, I was a bit surprised. But since I’ve come in under Delia, I’m really glad to call you a friend. Your ability to tackle reporting with such promise and conviction is something I respect so much as a manager and as a confidant. Thanks for calming me down during my print-night outbursts, and thanks for all of the chats I’ll forever cherish. I’m so proud of you.

Griffin: Thanks for ALWAYS hearing me out. Sometimes I felt like it was a two v. two: Brenne and Griffin’s teetering on the line of editorial and unnecessary and Rose and Kendall’s, ultimately correct, strong and fair choice of language. Between having to come harass you in the dig room as an assistant begging you to accept edits on your story so I could go home and passionately blurting out mac pitches at the most inappropriate of times this semester, I am so glad we’ve been able to work together and grow closer this year. Some of the best student journalism I’ve read has been under your byline and I’m forever mesmerized by your freakish mind. Keep killing it bro.

Delia: When we took MND 305 together last year, I was the most prudish and uppity reporter in the world. When you took a chance on me, hiring me only after only a few D.O. bylines prior, I immediately realized how much I respect you, as a leader, reporter and a friend. I have ALWAYS said you’d be an amazing editor-in-chief and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You are going to do amazing things next year and always, always know I’ll be here to support you.

Ave: I don’t think that, to this day, I’ve ever given you a photo assignment on time. Thanks for bearing with me and making me laugh. I hope we can collaborate in the future.

Charlotte: We’ve connected, laughed and, in some instances, cried ever since I took culture bylines under Ben Butler. Thanks for always being a safe haven for me to complain and bond over our scarily similar ex-boyfriend experiences. You are one of the most crucially honest people I know and I will forever be grateful. Let’s knock out our last ESF byline together and maybe hang out… socially.

Peace out D.O., I’m glad to finally ‘sunset’ this shit.

Jk. Love you all.

– B Schmoney

Published on May 1, 2026 at 10:41 pm
Contact Brenne: bsheeh03@syr.edu