For one last time, put it on the board

I walked onto this campus four years ago as a smug freshman, unsure of how the next four years in New York City would change my life.

Upon entering the joint program between the School of General Studies at Columbia and List College at the Jewish Theological Seminary, I knew that I would need to make an extra effort to break into both communities. Students in my program are treated to a close-knit community at JTS that is unparalleled in American academia. But at the same time, living off of Columbia’s campus can make acceptance and entrance into the wider Columbia undergraduate community difficult.

So like some of my colleagues, I left my freshman dorm room and ventured out to open houses for different student groups, looking for a place to build relationships and call home. The reputation of the Columbia Daily Spectator preceded my move to New York, and I decided to attend an open house.

I was shocked by the confusion and suffocating cluster of people that gathered in the office that day, but in the very back of the room, I noticed a group of guys that were laughing their asses off under a sign that read “sports.” My father wrote for the Daily Illini exactly 30 years ago and had instilled that indescribable love for the game in me from a very young age.

I felt the magnetic pull and slowly sifted through the horde of people, finally reaching the back office of the Spectator, where I was destined to spend so many hours. I was greeted by Jon Kamran and Joshua Robinson, who immediately gave me a story and with it, a group of friends that I truly cherish. As I soon realized, the people I was looking to meet on this campus weren’t in the fraternities or the student government—they were on the sports staff of Spectator.

Over four years at this paper, I’ve written 115 stories on nearly all of our sports teams at Columbia. I covered the baseball team for four years, wrote a few articles for that lowly news section, ripped Collegeboxes when they refused to return students’ belongings, and reported on the inauguration of Chancellor Arnold Eisen at JTS.

By far my best year at Spec was my associate year, when I worked under the illustrious Jon Tandem. In that one year alone—where I partnered for half of the year with Finn Walter McManus Dusenbery— I spoke to Auggie’s mother on the phone, called Lukas from August’s cell on a weekly basis, railed on a certain pompous news editor, added verbs to Puro’s subject-full stories, and wrote bad headlines for stories in which our “prophetic” coaches came to the realization that our teams needed to score points in order to win.

Sadly, my academic responsibilities in pursuing two bachelor’s degrees, as well as my commitment to LionPAC—Columbia’s pro-Israel group, which I ran for two years—prevented me from taking on an increased administrative role at Spectator. However, unforeseen events gave me the opportunity to serve as the sports editor for one night a week during part of my junior year. I’ve also had the opportunity to grace our sports page with my columns for the past two years and to recruit new writers and editors (including my brother) to keep our section strong. Now, I know that my columns often focused on “real” sports topics and not on Columbia, but let’s discuss that aspect for just a moment:

I want to state one last time that I commend every one of our student athletes here at Columbia. As someone who is overextended, I am well aware of what it means to participate in our athletic program while maintaining sound academic requirements.

Sometimes we write things that aren’t positive, and I’ve witnessed the wrath of the Athletic Department on several occasions. But I speak for all of my colleagues in that we are always trying to present the truth. Furthermore, it may be hard to see Spec Sports in this way, but we are your biggest fans on campus.

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A few, brief words on those that made my time at Spec so enjoyable:

Kamran and Robinson: You two were the great fathers of the section when I arrived, and I’m grateful for your initial guidance and for the opportunities that you provided.

Jon August: Yes, you were the subject of most of my jokes, so thank you for the popularity points. But you can also throw a few punches as well from time to time, and you’re one hell of a writer and editor. I’m still pissed that you made me fix all those substandard headlines. It’s hard for me to write this, but you have been a true friend over the years and I’m happy that we stay in touch and consult on our futures.

Jon Tayler: When I hear your name, I start laughing. You are one of the most hilarious people I’ve ever met, and you certainly adopted “That’s what she said” before it was popularized. During your tenure, we associates always felt relieved when you walked into the office instead of Auggie—I know you appreciate that. Your assistance and encouragement in the weekly pranking operations was much appreciated, and your near-death stories at each Sunday meeting are just classic.

Matt, Lisa, and Holly: We all started off as freshmen in this section together, and spending four years covering sports with you has been a really special experience. Holly, you’re living proof that stereotypes (and especially those about Texas) are always true. Lisa, I’m really excited about your job for next year and know that we’ll continue to be in touch.

And Velazquez: You, sir, certainly give JTay a running for the most hilarious person on campus. Your energy is contagious in a non-cliché way, and it’s no secret why people gravitate around you. Your presence sends a jolt into any room, and I’ve enjoyed watching you dance with your goblet and cheering/mourning Joe Bova’s back condition with every turn of events.

Charles Young might be the smartest person I know. C, I’ve loved going to ballgames with you, even if your sports knowledge is scary sometimes. Puro, I’ll never forget the time when you basically didn’t make it to Spec Dinner, and you’ll never forget another verb.

Lev: I still don’t know how you left campus during an incredible NHL playoffs and what will certainly be a Stanley Cup run for our Hawks, but I know how much you needed this time off. You’ve become such a close friend, and if you could just abandon your Cubs obsession, I could start loving you 100 percent.

Mikey: What a special thing this has been—getting to write the baseball beat with my little brother and appearing on the same page on several occasions. Whaddaya say I get out of your way and let you make your own name here?

To Jenna Baldachin, my girlfriend, and Seth Samuels, my husband: You both know how much you’ve contributed to my life during these years. Thanks so much for everything.

And to all the others with whom I’ve worked: Anand, Bart, Jelani, Michele, Dave, Kunal, Kavitha, Lucas, Ben, Repko, Chris, Sarah, Madeleine, and so many more, thank you.

I’ve come out of this university a different person, as someone who is able to engage with and think critically about the world that I am inheriting. I am especially proud that I’ve been able to share my thoughts with you, the readers, for several years now.

For one last time, “You can put it on the board... Yes!” And as the great Jon Tayler once ended his senior column: Go Sox!

Jacob Shapiro is a List College senior majoring in history and Talmud.
sports@columbiaspectator.com