Timothy Kudo Kudo is the 2001-2002 editor in
chief. He’s going to be around for a fifth year in protest of
the minimum progress requirement. He also thanks the editors and
advisor he worked with and wishes Cuauhtemoc the best of luck.
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Most people who pick up a Daily Bruin at the newsstands think
nothing of it. For them, it’s just another crossword. But for
me, going to the rack in the morning, inevitably on the way to
Kerckhoff rather than class, has been the best part of my day for
four years. At first, it was seeing my byline. Then it was seeing a
big story I had edited and hoping that it would send the paper hot
off the racks. Now though, more than anything, I like to watch
other people go by the stands. Some pick up the paper, others look
and walk past, and some just ignore it all together. This last
group is the one I’ve spent the last year working for.
They’re the students who don’t care, who don’t
see anything important, who have better things to do, and who just
don’t get it. It’s not just that they choose ignorance,
but their decision, and opinion, that a free paper isn’t
worth picking up says a lot about the work of the students who
spend night and day trying to get that paper into a reader’s
hands. It implies that one of two things is true ““ either The
Bruin isn’t providing valuable information or students have
their priorities in the wrong place. But the truth, as always, is
probably somewhere in the middle. It will always be The
Bruin’s blessing and burden to improve itself and win over
these readers. And we do. The students who sell ads, write stories,
design pages, take photos and edit don’t passively absorb the
news, they do something about it. When was the last time you saw
one hundred people working together toward a common goal? And they
do it so an informed public will act. The Bruin isn’t
perfect, never has been and never will be. But that doesn’t
mean it doesn’t try damn hard. It’s gone through name
changes, staff changes, revolts, politicization, protests,
investigations, earthquakes and hundreds of other calamities and
fortunes and has continued to produce one of the best things UCLA
has to offer. It challenges people, it challenges the system, it is
great, poor and as often as it guards its readers as a dutiful
watchdog, it has neglected that role. It’s hard for me to
tell you what The Bruin is or should be. That’s something for
you to decide. Hopefully you’ll spend the time figuring it
out and if you’re lucky, you’ll realize what a
relentless and humbling institution The Bruin is. Beyond the
papers, beyond the work, even beyond the friendships, is the
experience of being part of something greater than yourself. A
place with people who do great things and will graduate on to even
greater ones. A place where students make important decisions. And
a place that has never stopped publishing, no matter the
circumstance, and never will. It’s something too big for you
to do right the first time and something you never get a chance at
again. Your only rewards are memories that sweeten with every
recollection. You can’t not change in this, or any other job
at The Bruin. You become a little sadder, a little happier, a lot
smarter, less knowledgeable; you compromise, you fight, you become
a parent and a child and you realize the vast work your editors put
in, and how much respect you owe them no matter what terms you
parted on. That is, if you do it right, and I believe I did. I know
I could have done better ““ everyone can always do better
““ but I stayed true to the paper, to my staff and to the
readers, even when I made mistakes. I think that over four years I
helped shape a paper that had forgotten its voice into something
that is honest and ambitious once again in its mission and
intentions. I’ve also made a lot of friends, and some enemies
along the way. I’ve finally done the job I’ve wanted to
do and am ready to leave it. Some day, you may sit down to write a
30 column after years enamored with this place. You’ll
struggle, curse, and maybe have a few beers. It’ll be hard
and sad when it’s over but you’ll have learned so much
more about this campus, these people, The Bruin and most
importantly, yourself. Only then will you begin to understand
anything I’m talking about now. You’ll see and
you’ll miss it. Hopefully you’ll go on to something
better, though few things compare to the idealism and inspiration
of this place. A good editor doesn’t just make you a better
writer, a good editor makes you a better person and this place has
always been full of them. Hopefully you’re up to the job.