The sun shone brightly that spring morning, a roll-the-car-windows-down, turn-up-the-radio, school’s-almost-out kind of morning.
I pulled up at Copeland, grabbed a newspaper on the way inside and unlocked the newsroom. I began my ritual of red-marking The Daily. I glanced at the calendar and reminded myself that I’d survived a second year as editorial adviser. It was April 19, 1995.
Breaking news on TV jolted me out of my office. Joy Mathis, the M.E., was glued to the set, watching something about a gas explosion in Oklahoma City. As she and I watched, mesmerized, it soon became apparent this was no gas explosion.
“What are you going to do?” I asked, breaking the spell.
“Oh!” she said. And she jumped to the task, calling in reporters, photographers and editors, and barking orders. Michelle Sutherlin, fresh out of the shower, was the first of 25 staffers sent to the Alfred P. Murrah building, or what was left of it. Their work that day far exceeded my expectations. With the paper finally put to bed, everybody celebrated a job well done. Tan Ly, a designer, sidled up to me: “Jack, is it OK that we cheered?” His empathy for those people killed and injured in the bombing and the fact that some of our reporters helped the Red Cross as they worked at journalism was as inspirational to me as anything I experienced in my 35-year career.
I have a thousand more memories of Daily staffers:
—The time night editor Margot Habiby called me at home: “I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news: we got out on time (they’d had trouble meeting deadlines). The bad news: we’ve got a sniper outside.”
—The time students formed “Team Jack,” supporting a breast cancer survivor at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on campus. I had feared what they might think of me as I battled the disease and chemotherapy. They humbled me with their compassion.
—The time in New Orleans as they chanted “Pacemaker!” and ate Cajun cuisine.
—The time editor-in-chief Amy McFall refused to meet with President Boren as he requested. “I know what it’s about,” she said. “Our editorial.” “Don’t you think you should at least talk to him?” “No! He doesn’t control The Daily.” They finally met. The editorial never came up.
—The Sunday afternoon editor-in-chief Nick Jungman didn’t show up for work. He phoned in about 4 p.m. Said he’d just started driving. He’d be back Monday. He was in Colorado Springs.
— And on and on.
To this day, I live vicariously all over again when I hear of former students reporting on the Panama Papers or the Mideast or editing a Pulitzer winner or just doing what journalists do. I’m so proud of them.
The Daily turned 100 this year — view our commemorative centennial edition here and read more memories from former Daily adviser Andy Rieger here.
