A thank you to the OGB

As my last month here on campus before graduation draws to a close, so does my time with the Old Gold & Black. Serving as a foreign correspondent during my junior year and as a senior writer through my senior year, I have written twenty-three articles for the newspaper.

My nearly-two-dozen articles memorialize my life over the past year and a half. I’ve been able to share my experiences on a platform always willing to listen, and have been able to tell stories that otherwise would not have been told. And it was not only my experience that can be traced through my pieces, it’s also Wofford’s.

From my news article “Racism at Wofford in the spotlight” to my piece “But what about the process,” I’ve documented Wofford’s slow journey toward racial equity. I’m proud to know that when students, faculty, staff, and others look back on these articles in the future, I was unabashed in my critiques of the college.

Through pieces such as “I want those braids in my hair” and “Thrive with Pride,” the Old Gold & Black has joined the campus community in discussions on cultural appropriation and LGBTQ+ representation.

It was truly a privilege to document my time studying abroad in Chile, Nepal, Jordan and Senegal. I wrote about meeting the living Kumari in Nepal, I followed the Chilean revolution, talked about facing sexual harassment abroad and shared some of cultural characteristics of Senegal to name a few. Writing as a foreign correspondent allowed me to remain connected to campus, and to share aspects of various cultures with the Wofford community.

The newspaper has always been home to diverging political ideologies and is known for sparking controversy– especially with the infamous “Black and Blue” editions. At a school like Wofford, where conservative thought remains in the spotlight, I am thankful that the newspaper provided a medium for more liberal ideas to be shared in a thought-provoking manner. After all, in an election year, a little lively debate goes a long way on a col- lege campus.

I am so grateful for my time writing for the Old Gold & Black. My articles serve as a diary of my last two years at Wofford and trace how I, the college and the world have changed through twenty three entries.

Thank you, OGB.