I have lived on the back page of the paper for almost four years. There’s very little I’ve done for four years at Vassar. I’ve known The Misc longer than some of my closest friends; I’ve been an editor longer than I’ve been an art history major. Freshman Sadie sent an email that said, “Over my time here doing the Misc crosswords/games, I have noticed that there isn’t a crossword/games editor listed. Is this a position at The Misc? If not, should it become one? If so, am I able to come in and discuss why I would love to do that job? I hope so!” and the rest was history.
I’m sorry to indulge in some selfishness, but one of my favorite things that the paper has given me is celebrity. When I meet new people, they occasionally have a pre-conceived notion of me as a cruciverbalist. Sometimes professors recognize my name from the back page of the paper. I am now incredibly Google-able. In the images, though, instead of my sparkling eyes and shining smile is a black-and-white grid. Just how I like it.
Besides that, and more seriously, sending that email freshman year and everything that has happened since has been so much fun. If I didn’t have The Misc, I probably would not have made as many crosswords as I did, wouldn’t have gotten to see my friends and family (from afar) solve them and wouldn’t have leveled up my cruciverbalist skills the way that I now have.
I also want to say a huge thank you to Felix, who has been on the Games staff almost as long as I have. We met at the Misc Mingle, a classic event, and he has been so much fun and so much help. When I started in this position, and before I met Felix, I felt very defensive: This was my position, I would do it until I graduate. I was right, I’m graduating with the position, but feel absolutely no reluctance in turning it over to Felix. I know games will thrive.
One time, our Ed Board check-in question was “If you could fill a swimming pool with anything, what would it be?” and I answered, “I would fill a swimming pool with love.” I think that has been done: I love the newspaper, I love Ed Board meetings, I love our check-in questions, I love voting, I love crossword puzzles, I love anagrams, I love connections. I love these things a swimming pool sized amount, at least.
On to more games, I hope, forever and ever until I die.