Congratulations to the 143rd Editorial Board from a member of the 84th. Despite the many years of separation, we share a common bond. For most of us (like me), The Sun was and is our defining affinity group activity while at Cornell. We are all part of a great tradition of serving the oldest independent college newspaper in the country, even at the expense of studies and keeping normal hours.
While I did not go into journalism or become a writer, I did become a book publishing lawyer. Over the years I have written hundreds of contracts involving publishers and authors. My experiences at The Sun have been invaluable.
In those long-gone years, the newspaper was produced by linotype hot-metal machine. Part of the job of the night editor was to proofread the entire next-day’s edition, including advertisements and classifieds, once a week starting at 9 p.m. and ending at 2 a.m. normal closing time (or sometimes even later in the event of a late-breaking story). The pay for those five hours of proofing was 50 cents an hour, not nearly enough to pay for a fraction of law school. But it did teach me to proofread, and that skill has come in handy reviewing legal documents for “typos.”
The Sun also taught me to be a better writer, a lifelong skill that translates into almost every endeavor of working life, whether or not one becomes a journalist or an author. In those days long before PC’s and word-processing, stories had to be written directly on the typewriter, in descending order of importance, often against a deadline. No time to first write out in longhand and then transcribe. Little did I know at the time, but this skill has transferred seamlessly into word processing without having first to go through multiple contract drafts.
My most memorable experience, however, occurred in the spring of my junior year while I was competing for managing editor at The Sun. At the time I was taking a Shakespeare course taught by Arthur Mizener, a well-known professor in the English Department and an expert on F. Scott Fitzgerald. The course consisted of two papers and a final exam, each counting one-third of the grade. Professor Mizener had one major requirement … each paper had to be handed in on time, at the risk of a five-point deduction for each late day. I did reasonably well on the paper, an 80, but wound up with a 35 because it was nine days late. And that was one-third of my grade for the course! I ultimately passed the course by doing very well on the next paper and okay on the final exam.
When I went to talk to Professor Mizener about the grade on the paper, he taught me a valuable lesson that I carry with me to this day. Sometimes in life, we have to make decisions where two desired outcomes are not possible. In my case, submitting the paper on time or competing for an editorship. Part of becoming an adult, I learned, is making the decision we think is right for us at the time, while accepting responsibility for the choice not made. After all, isn’t that what “Freedom with Responsibility” is all about?
Good luck to The Sun’s 143rd Editorial Board and best wishes for continued success carrying on this great tradition!
Leslie Steinau '65
Assistant Managing Editor
The Cornell Daily Sun is interested in publishing a broad and diverse set of content from the Cornell and greater Ithaca community. We want to hear what you have to say about this topic or any of our pieces. Here are some guidelines on how to submit. And here’s our email: associate-editor@cornellsun.com.
