By: Mike Pesarchick, Editor-in-Chief
In the corner of The Griffin’s office, there is a plain tan file cabinet, the kind you see at your dentist’s office or maybe in a third grade classroom.
This unassuming metal box is our library. It contains every edition we have published since the 1960s at least. In my time at Canisius, it has been my honor to count myself among the names and faces behind the countless editions of The Griffin ever printed.
We’ve covered fun moments in my time, like the infamous “Peanut Butter Bandit” of Frisch Hall. We’ve also covered some not-so-fun moments, like last summer’s wave of layoffs and the continuing fallout.
I sincerely hope I’ve been able to make a difference as The Griffin’s editor-in-chief. Above all, I hope the Canisius community, both on campus and abroad, continue to trust us as the source for information, entertainment and enlightenment.
And so, it’s time for me to reflect on my time at 2001 Main St. Where did the time go? Canisius has not been without its share of frustrations and difficulties , but I will leave its halls a different person ready to take on the world’s challenges in grad school and beyond.
Isn’t it funny how things change? I walked onto campus as a sports journalism major and after four years, a couple crises, a letter from the philosophy department and an extra major later I’m headed to the University at Buffalo for a master’s in urban planning.
I managed bylines in three major newspapers and a radio station, had a piece quoted in The Washington Post, almost pet a wild sea lion in San Diego (no one told me they were so loud), earned a few parking tickets, stood on the roof of the Central Terminal, survived a global pandemic (so far — get vaccinated), made a few enemies and even more friends.
Just four years ago, I was debating Canisius or St. Bonaventure and, truth be told, I didn’t like the prospect of Canisius at all. But the great Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “all life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better,” and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
I would like to use my last few column-inches to thank the many people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet at Canisius. There are too many to list them all; they’re all close to my heart.
I’ll start with a big thank you to my parents, whose support kept me on the right path during difficult decisions. Similarly, thanks to my girlfriend, Isabella, for keeping me sane!
Thanks to everyone at The Buffalo News sports department, where I spent two fantastic years. Josh Barnett, Steve Trosky, Mark Gaughn, “Miggy” Rodriguez, Rachel Lenzi, Jason “J-Pom” Pomietlasz, Jim “Woj” Wojtanik, Mike Harrington and the immortal Milt Northrop are all names I enjoyed working with. I won’t forget the good times, the advice or those lazy summer nights waiting for baseball scores to trickle in.
Similarly, thanks to the great staff at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette where I spent the crazy summer of 2020. Jerry Micco, Tim McDonough and the staff helped me out on every byline.
Big thanks to Tim Wenger, Kevin Carr, Mike Bagerman, Brandon Keany and the WBEN crew for showing me the ropes of radio broadcasting during my internship there.
I cannot say enough about the talents and support of our very own Dan Higgins for not only being a rock to cling to for The Griffin but also for me as one of my advisors. Thanks Dan!
Thanks to Dr. Barbara Irwin for helping get my internship at WBEN put together as well as being my other advisor over my four years! I’ll miss taping Kaleidoscope.
Thanks to Dr. Matt Mitchell, who sadly is no longer at Canisius, for the many discussions about Iron Maiden, the many new artists he introduced me to and for the extra ticket to Iron Maiden when they came to KeyBank Center in 2019 on their “Legacy of the Beast” tour. Hell of a time. Up the Irons.
Thanks to Dr. Kevin Hardwick, who never once said “no” when I needed something, from a recommendation letter for the DiGamma Honor Society to an advisor for my honors thesis. Thanks for all the laughs in class and the inspiration to go to planning school in the fall.
Lastly, thanks to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with on The Griffin. There isn’t a better school paper in the world and I know it’s in good hands for next year. I’ll miss those Thursday nights in that little office dearly.
Oh, and support local journalism. How else would you know what’s going on?