I’ve sat staring at a blank document for this article for far too long. It feels very strange to be writing my final piece for the paper that has defined my entire college career. Anyone who knows me knows that being the Editor-in-Chief of The Samford Crimson was my college dream – and now, it’s over. Not only did this year fly by, but every year I’ve written for this paper has. I know it’s cliche, but it truly feels like just yesterday I was sitting in as a contributing writer on my first meeting with Rebekah Crozier as EIC, pitching a story to a room full of people I did not know.
Now, that room has become my second home. Most of those people shaped who I became in college, and the ones that followed became like family to me. The growth that I’ve seen in my writing since that very first story has been tremendous (seriously, if you want a laugh, go look up the first stories about Beta Theta Pi I wrote in 2022). The Samford Crimson has become a weekly ritual for me. It’ll be strange now that it’s gone.
Achieving your dreams is always such a nostalgic feeling. Something you yearned and worked for for years, suddenly over. Something you’ve spent so many hours obsessing over, suddenly absent from your thoughts. Something that was a defining piece of you, suddenly just a piece of your history. I will miss the late nights working on this newspaper, the places that it has taken me and the doors that it has opened – but I am so excited for and proud of the staff that has stepped up to take it on.
To our readers, thank you for your continued support. We would not have a paper if people did not read it. I started this job with an article that made the bold statement that we write for you, and I hope that we have kept that promise.
Ben, thank you for making me so grateful that I took a chance when hiring a random sophomore in my broadcast class last spring. Thank you for putting up with my lack of knowledge in editing the sports section this year. Your work for the sports section this year has been irreplaceable, and I know next year will somehow be even better.
Nina, never stop glowing. Your joy has been made so apparent in this year’s arts & life section. Thank you for taking care of it so well for me. And to Anna Faith, you are in for a treat. I’m obviously biased, but it’s the best section of all.
Avery and Lorelai, thank you both so much for stepping up this year. You will do wonderful with both of your positions. I am so excited to see your work. Kate Maze, you have big shoes to fill, but I believe you can do it. You’ve already proven so much as a staff writer this year, so news editing will be a breeze for you. Thank you all for your friendship and care for this paper.
As for the entire staff, thank you for making my EIC year one I’ll never forget. Each and every one of you has made this paper what it is – not me. It would not be possible without you. Your stories, your voices, your words are what make The Samford Crimson what it is. If you can, I implore you to continue writing next year. If you let it, the Crimson can and will change your college experience for the better.
Finally, my lovely Kate Seaver. I know you’ll do good for this paper, because you have already done good for this paper. I knew from the moment we tackled the mono outbreak together (yes, the infamous mono story had to make an appearance in this last article) you would be a wonderful Editor-in-Chief. You were built to do this job. I’ll echo the same sentiment of Harper and Andrew: take care of my baby for me.
Sincerely,
Your 2025-2026 EIC,
Syd Pulliam
Editor-in-Chief
