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Writer declares for the draft

By Daily Bruin Staff

June 9, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 9, 1996

Pardon the expression, but I’m about to get sentimental on yo’
asses.

As I sit here and compose my 30- column, the traditional parting
words of senior writers, upperclassmen and retiring students, I’m
suddenly twinged with bittersweet regret. Here I am, effectively
retiring my journalistic voice as a Bruin at the tender age of 19,
only two years into my collegiate stay. Too bad I can’t give up my
final two and turn pro.

It wasn’t easy hanging up the pad -n- recorder for good. It
wasn’t much of a choice either. See, next month I depart for my
junior year abroad in the land of milk and honey, and it’s kind of
difficult to cover athletic teams from 10,000 miles away. Think of
the confusion over deadlines alone.

Though the whining Gimelstobs of the world would disagree, I’m
probably arresting my journalistic career prematurely. I spent five
academic quarters working for The Bruin, and all I have to show for
it is the word "staff" under my byline. Where once I looked
starry-eyed toward an editorial future at the Daily Bruin, now I
look back at the unrealized possibilities with chagrin.

Instead, this will be my last hurrah (wild cheering). No more
previews, player profiles, snippets of Bruin sports lore, factoids
merged together in something called a "notebook," and for the
better, no more spouting of personal agenda in the guise of
journalism.

The saddest part is, I can’t shake the feeling that my
self-jettison from the DB Sports department is part of the larger
abandonment by this year’s staff. Next fall the Sports department
will begin production with 11 fewer members than the previous fall.
It’s not by design; some of us are graduating and some of us don’t
have the time anymore. But not to worry ­ I have a sneaking
suspicion that the mass exodus of sports writers will hurt the
department far less than we anticipate.

Now comes the time where the writer imparts his audience with
some closing words that may loosely be construed as advice. (So
much for a fluid transition). So I say to all of you reading this
column, take part in student journalism.

If you’re among the unfortunate souls staying in Westwood this
summer, apply for an internship at the Summer Bruin. If you’re the
type who prefers cultural dissemination, there are seven student
magazines on this campus which would graciously welcome any
editorial, creative, graphical and commercial contributions you
have to offer them.

Student journalism is one of the few uncensored student forums
in the UCLA community, an opportunity for any person to articulate
themselves freely and publicly. And there are no prerequisites
­ all you need is a nine-digit URSA identification and a rough
sense of punctuation. Remember, the heart of student journalism
thrives on the initiative and innovation of students like
yourselves. Keep it pulsating.

Tamler always wanted to be allowed to use profanity in his
stories just like A&E writers, but his editors would never let
him. "F–k that," he would usually reply.

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