My second semester of my freshman year, I took a leap of faith. I walked into Williams 323 hoping for a chance to practice my writing. It was the Happy Birthday, Buzzsaw issue, and I’d just binged watched several serial killer documentaries, and for some godforsaken reason Anna Lamb and Owen Walsh let me write an introspective on the romanticization of Ted Bundy’s crimes. By the end of the semester they trusted me enough to be an editor. It seemed like a fluke. How could someone as quiet and mild-mannered as me be an editor on this edgy, DIY magazine dedicated to deconstructing Western ideology? But over the next several semesters, I learned that Buzzsaw has a way of pushing you to places you never thought you’d be.
These last few years at Buzzsaw have unironically been some of my favorite memories of undergrad. I’ve helped expose injustice and educate people about important issues in this community. I’ve written reviews and satire and poems and investigative journalism. I’ve shown others how to tell their stories. I’ve met the most hardworking, dedicated people working on this team. We’ve survived a pandemic and made Ithaca College’s premiere alternative publication into a permanent fixture on this campus. I could not be more proud of the work we’ve done together. And I know M Minton will continue Buzzsaw’s mission and run News & Views like an absolute boss.
I know wherever I end up next will be great. But nothing will be like Buzzsaw. There will be nothing like that delirious laughter after hours editing in the BuzzCave. There will be nothing like digging through costumes on the floor of Park for a photoshoot. There’s no way to explain needlessly bullying Adam or why gluten free pizza is hilarious or our affinity for Old Spice products. I will forever miss Mae and Mateo and Alex and Audra and Greta and Brennan and Sarah and Julia and Joe and Kevin and everyone who made this strange place ever so beautiful.
If you picked up this issue of Buzzsaw wondering if you’ve got what it takes to write for this mag, let me tell you right now: you do. Your voice deserves to be heard. Your perspective is needed. Take the leap. I promise you, it’s worth it.
Goodbye Buzzsaw. Thank you for everything.