By: Katy Beth Boyers, former Editor-in-Chief 2020-2022
I got involved with the Crimson my freshman year in 2019 as a contributing writer. I then was brought on as the Arts & Life Editor until the pandemic. During that time, I applied for and became the Editor-in-Chief from 2020 to 2022.
I brought back the paper from digital to a new tabloid style format as we began to move forward after the pandemic. Our first issue in the new style featured Buxley the Bulldog.
Being involved in the Crimson taught me so much – not only about journalism, but also leadership and staying involved across campus.
Student journalism to me is not recognized as much as it should be. They strive to tell stories with little-to-no budget or support while also trying to balance academics and other extracurriculars. I know from my own experience how hard that is, and I applaud students pursuing this career.
I believe the Crimson itself is what continues to keep the campus community updated on what’s going on. Just like local news, it provides their community with the information they need to know and the stories that impact them.
One story I worked on while I was in the Crimson was about students being reportedly stalked off-campus. The female students I talked to said it happened at a nearby Walmart just minutes away from campus. I interviewed them as well as Samford police on the safety of campus.
I also worked with Crimson colleague Mackenzee Simms on a Sons of Light documentary series as we worked to learn more about their history and past pranks, scavenger hunts and riddles. They eventually ran new riddles, and we ended up publishing about it in the paper.
Another case that didn’t happen while I was in the Crimson, but I wrote my senior thesis about was the Rex Copeland murder case. If you aren’t familiar, Rex Copeland was a Samford student that was murdered in his off-campus apartment in the early 80s. A Samford debate coach was later convicted of his murder. The Crimson covered the whole case from beginning to end, even publishing a special report on the coach’s guilty conviction.
My senior thesis focused on how student journalists covered such a serious case that made national news at the time. Also, I discovered that actor and Samford JMC alum Tony Hale might have been one of the contributing writers in the initial coverage of his murder. I never could confirm, but he was a student around the time this happened.
I am currently a senior producer at a TV station in Bowling Green, KY, which may be shocking to hear considering my involvement with the Crimson. However, I believe the Crimson helped me in becoming the leader and journalist I am today in the newsroom.
I still report occasionally, especially investigative stories that involve me having to break down data, localize national topics and look at public records. I produce the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts on weekdays and love it so far! We also are close to Western Kentucky University and have many students shadow and intern with us, and I always try to show them the ropes and teach them what we do in the newsroom.
