Last stop – all aboard the Excalibur Express

Michael Burton, Editor-in-Chief
After three years of working at Excalibur, it’s safe to say that I’ve seen some shit.
More importantly, you, the reader, really shouldn’t know who I am. I’ve kept my head down for the last three years hoping nobody throws garbage at me in the halls or harasses me with phone calls.
But the funny thing with working at a newspaper is that you can’t make everyone happy. It just doesn’t work that way and if everyone from the administration, to student politicians, to professors, and to students themselves loved Excalibur, I really haven’t done a good job of running a paper.
Without getting too descriptive, newspapers more often than not, piss people off.
I wish I could say I’m sorry, but I’m not. It’s simply the territory of the work. It’s not something I get a kick out of, but that’s how it is.
I’ve done my best to keep the Excalibur train moving despite the many hurdles and roadblocks that can present themselves. But after three years here, I can honestly say that the amount of things to get upset over or advocate for is exhausting.
But students, you do you. I respect that.
Between students libelling the paper in the media and creating watchdog Facebook accounts, more often than not when the paper has been slammed online, those slammers aren’t really down to chat about what has been said or written.
And don’t get me started on the awkward interactions I’ve had with student politicians in Vari Hall. Heads quickly turn away when I walk through Vari. Newspapers monitor power, and aside from administration, those student politicians hold quite a bit of power at York. I’m talking about millions of dollars of student money, so ask them questions about how they are spending your money.
You should also ask them if they have ever thrown an issue of the paper in the trash.
But that’s politics though. We need each other, even if one side hates the other.
Aside from some of the things that give me headaches, the learning experience of covering the York community has been nothing short of fascinating. From a strike, a shooting, crime, bribery, and of course, Israel-Palestine conflict, York has changed my life and I’ve grown immensely from working and studying here.
I know endless things about the school and I feel like I could publish a York-themed Cards Against Humanity box set. I’ve seen students foster school spirit, shout their political views, and express themselves through controversial art. Now that my time here is done, I can say that I am proud to be a York student.
Some thanks are needed and the paper wouldn’t be where it is now without the collaboration of so many talented students. Our staff and volunteers have made Excalibur exceptional, even those volunteers that wander in and have no idea how they want to contribute. I admire your overall happiness and I hope someone in the office has moulded you into a writer, reporter, illustrator, copy editor, photographer, or videographer.
I won’t say it’s been fun but I’ll say that it’s been rewarding.
I had fun working as a team and shouting “give me the dot ones” on Tuesday nights, telling my copy editors “no happiness,” and sending all-caps Facebook messages to section editors when they fail to get their content in on time. It’s amazing how everyone can stay so up-to-date on Netflix, but suddenly miss submission deadlines.
Yes, I know I’m a hypocrite and I routinely submit my own work late. Also, I’ve refused to put a single exclamation mark in the paper.
All of your passions and personalities have kept me inspired, and I am happy to say that I am leaving the paper in a good place. I’ll miss Excalibur, but it’s time to move over and let someone else take the wheel.
I’m not sure where else I will find a place with such an immense sense of purpose and belonging.
Thanks for the ride!