Working for The Good Five Cent Cigar shaped my experiences here at the University of Rhode Island in ways that are difficult to lay out in a 500-word goodbye column.
Transferring to Rhode Island as a third-year to be a part of the URI Sailing Team and only ever living in off-campus housing, my experience as a student here at URI was far from conventional.
I enjoyed my classes, made great friends and took immense pride in representing the University on the racecourse, but had little connection to the campus itself and the student and university-led activities and organizations that make our campus a vibrant and bustling place.
Reporting at the Cigar has allowed me to learn the ins and outs of URI’s campus community, administration, athletics and student government and given me the chance to meet the activists, scientists, athletes and leaders that make this campus unique.
As I leave URI to start my career as a television news cameraman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I have the Cigar to thank for developing the skill set and love for my craft that was required to get a job in journalism. My experience as newscast editor not only allowed me to get the portfolio and resume needed to work in the field, but also allowed me to develop the workflow needed to film and produce multiple stories per day.
But most of all, the Cigar has introduced me to a group of people that I am beyond honored to work with and call my friends.
Ronan Himelrick and Juliana Lepore – I can’t thank you both enough for encouraging me to run for News Editor last fall and allowing me to be a part of this amazing e-board.
Lauren Drapeau and Sully Cummins – the journey from professor Betty Cotter’s Media Writing class to sitting at the editors’ table has been amazing and I am grateful to be able to have done that alongside you two.
Nate Robillard – working with you both with the Cigar and for classes has been a hallmark of my time here in Rhode Island. Be it interviewing homeless people in Newport, Rhode Island, driving to Worcester, Massachusetts at 8 a.m. to ZAP the Blackstone River or walking around campus filming the Robillard Report, there is nobody I have relied on and enjoyed working with more than you and I have zero doubts that you will make it big in the industry.
Zack Petrick and Aidan Cahill – I am beyond grateful for the work both of you have put in to help me make the newscast great this semester and am happy to have had the chance to call you friends.
Beyond the editorial team, I am seriously grateful for the work and enthusiasm that our contributors have put into the newscast this semester. To Kat Sheridan, Ryan Pelillo, Hannah Sash, Peter Gigliotti, Will Holt, Aidan Garvey and everybody else who has taken the time out of their incredibly busy schedules to go above and beyond for the newscast, thank you. I wish all of you the best and hope our paths cross again.
To Owen Tierney – although we’ve only met once, I have no doubt that you will thrive in this role. My only advice to you is to enjoy the job and the family that being on this e-board makes you a part of – it is an incredible group of people and I can’t wait to see the direction you decide to take the show.
For the last time ever: my name is Lucas Masiello, this is the Good Five Cent Cigar, and as always, have a great week Rhody.