View Feedback | Send this Article | Published 4/18/03

Whim turned out to be more than just a start. My involvement in this organization has made me who I am today. I have learned so much from my three years as Executive Director and have many to thank for their help along the way. Here goes.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the following Whim Alumni: Brian Korte, Jeff Pollard and Mike Sos. I learned so much from watching these incredibly talented leaders, artists, designers and just all around great guys. Whether it was a social event or an all-night brainstorming session, they always made me feel like I was part of the gang. They laid the foundation of what Whim has become and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to continue their legacy of excellence.

Another group of people who deserve a piece of the foundation-laying pie are former Assistant Directors of Student Media Kelly Wolf and Jason Ellenburg. Kelly was always a wealth of information and always had smile that brightened up Heth Hall. She was the media director the year before I was elected Whim director. Although we never directly worked together, she took the time to talk with me, answer my questions, and do some really important work for student media. Every now and then I see Kelly at media functions and she always remembers who I am and asks how things are going with Whim. Kelly was a true asset to Student Media at RU.

Jason Ellenburg was the media director my first year heading up Whim. Like Kelly, Jason was very approachable and always had positive feedback about the job I was doing. He was also the person responsible for entering us into the Best of Collegiate Design contest, where Whim won second place. Because he took the time to enter us, Whim received the much needed recognition we deserved. The award led us to bigger and better things, including PR in university publications and an increased budget. I can't help but think if it hadn't been for Jason's belief in our abilities, we would still be at the bottom of the student media barrel working with a budget of $1,100 a year.

Some of the best people in student media are also those who are often overlooked. Chelsea Adams, Sandra Kelly and Connie Henson all served as advisors to different media groups during the 2001-2002 academic year. These ladies were all a personal inspiration and have helped me in many capacities on many occasions. They were an allied force of support to the students when support was needed most. They helped us hang on to a student media that I am proud to be a part of.

While the RU faculty and staff are the brains of student media, the students are the heart. One student in particular I would like to thank is Jason Blankenship. Jason was the Beehive Editor-in-Chief for two years and the Student Media Committee chair for just as long. I already had a tremendous respect for Jason, but after being the committee chair myself this year, my respect has grown. Jason set a high standard for the media leaders and helped me with my "let's get the groups to get along" campaign. Jason was instrumental in improving student media policy and was frequently a key player in administration vs. student media issues. He fought the hard battles and at the same time was a fun and creative friend and confidant.

There couldn't be a web magazine without a web account, so my next set of thank you's go out to the folks at the office of Academic Computing, Ed Oakes, John Fox, and Sean Ramsey. Whether is was upping our account quota for the fifth time, answering our endless Mac questions or tracking down problem posters in our feedback forms, these guys did it without complaint. These guys are definitely the busiest people at RU, yet they always took the time to get back to me regarding my questions and comments. When you spend as much time working on Whim as I did, you get to know the people around the office. The following Heth staff members deserve a special thank you for all their help, expertise, personal conversation and for putting up with me all these years! Thank you, Liz Koch, Peggy Perdue, John Leonard, and Jenn Moylan. Thank you also to Christina Smith, Ken Bonk and Heather Smart, three newer folks whose work has made this year a special and productive one. š Meeting these people greatly improved my experience working in Student Activities. It is apparent that they all genuinely care about the success of students and that has made all the difference.

While the plan was to wait and thank my Exec staff at the annual spring banquet, I have to mention two folks that I am extremely proud of. John Cordiano will be taking over as Whim Director next year and Nick Pietron will be the Tartan Editor. I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to know that I am leaving Student Media in the capable hands of you both. Thank you for all you hard work this year, for the improvements you will make in the future, and for the sleep I will now get after this semester ends!

Unless you are an award-winning actor or the president perhaps, few get the opportunity to publicly thank their family for the love and support that fueled their endeavors. I am so glad to get that opportunity now. Thank you all for helping me though this, listing to my complaints and for occasionally reading and commenting in the feedback forms. You all are such an important part of my life and deserve to share in my success.

Because of Whim, I didn't transfer after my first semester to Virginia Tech (as was the plan) nor did I drop out of college altogether when things got hectic. š Through this organization, I was able to learn and be many things. I was a staff writer, an illustrator, a section manager, a graphics manager, an executive assistant, and a director. I have had the opportunity to serve on and lead many committees that have made positive changes at RU. These positions have given me the confidence and experience necessary to tackle future ventures. I would like to close this Whim chapter with thanks to everyone who has been a part of my tenure here. Without you, Whim would not be what it is today. I am proud to be a part of what Whim has become and I look forward to seeing its progress in the future.

Rachel Pastirik was Whim's only X-chromosomed director.