Guess what I’ve been doing finals week? ASUA stuff.

As of now, I’ve turned in my final, final article ever for the Arizona Daily Wildcat. Yesterday, I covered the May 11 ASUA meeting. If you missed it, they essentially waited to pass a resolution on their stance on Senate Bill 1070. This morning, I went to their final meeting and wrote about their final resolution/stance, which was in opposition to Senate Bill 1070. My news story will be on the Wildcat website soon.

If you have the chance, read my long-winded interview with 2009-10 ASUA President Chris Nagata.

DW farewell, Blackberry advice, France, Eat Pray Love

As a graduating senior, I’m done writing stories for the Arizona Daily Wildcat. What a great experience. Now, it’s time to find another publication to obsessively write for.

Be sure to read Jazmine Woodberry’s Everyone has a Story article on me. That was a nice way to end my time at the Wildcat. I had such a blast working in the newsroom, and I’m grateful for the friends I made all throughout my time at the newspaper. To the people who loved my articles and sent fanmail to my email account as well as the parade of people who hated me like Captain Ahab despised Moby Dick: Thank you for reading. Really.

I wrote a story on ASUA’s immigration forum, which took place after the Daily Wildcat issues stopped going out to print for the semester.

Of course, there will be a commencement issue out on Wednesday, and my final Wildcat articles will be in that. I interviewed 2009-10 ASUA President Chris Nagata and wrote a short blurb for the “Top 10 News Stories of the Year” section. And that’s it. C’est fini.

Speaking of French, I am delighted to be going to France in exactly 20 days (!!!). I’m staying at my good friend’s house in the south of France for three weeks. I will, of course, miss my Blackberry, which does not work over in Europe. I am not sure how I handled not having my Blackberry all last summer…Call me superficial, but my one vice is my cell phone. I’m not into shopping, television, or sports, but I’m all about texting and bbm’ing. Quel dommage. Does anyone know if I can order a phone (with my same number and contact information) to take with me to France? I am sure it can be done..

I’d be lying if I said I don’t want the Eat Pray Love story to happen to me during my France trip.


I’ve actually never read the book, but I know the gist, and I’m hoping for revelatory experiences now that I’m graduating and leaving behind everything I know, cheesy as that sounds. I’ve already studied abroad in France, so this will be more relaxing, not to mention a great opportunity to practice my French again. I’m excited to spend more time with my friend Lola and her family, all of whom are absolutely incredible. Let’s hope I can learn to cook Croque Monsieur, and for the love of God, I hope to maintain my size. Last time I went to France, my host family gorged me with bread, pasta, and Nutella. Didn’t do wonders for my figure. I guess that’s part of the Eat Pray Love experience, though, being that the author gains a mess of weight during her year in Italy, and who wouldn’t? Anyway, here’s to exceptional cuisine, swimming, traveling, good friends, nights out on the town, and great memories.

Ever since its DVD release on April 27, I’ve watched It’s Complicated an obscene number of times. As you know, I’m anti-television shows (aside from Gilmore Girls and Sex and the City), so I only turn on the TV to watch movies. It’s Complicated is playing in my mini-DVD player right now. I just like to have it on for background noise, and I am not ashamed to admit that I adore Meryl Streep.

My two finals are separating me from the rest of my life. Boy, will Friday and Saturday be surreal.

Tomorrow, I am going to hatha yoga class. I’ve definitely missed doing yoga, but I haven’t had time since last semester. Plus, nothing beats yoga classes in Santa Cruz. Just sayin..

Everyone has a Story, ASUA’s last meeting

Be sure to meet my news report on ASUA’s final meeting of the school year as well as my last “Everyone has a Story” segment on Kevin Wos, a UA hoops fan, top 20 Zona Zoo points earner, and student with Asperger’s Syndrome.

I will be writing about six more stories for the Wildcat. It sounds like a lot, but we’re all running out of time. The final issue comes out on Wednesday, and then we have a commencement issue to work on. I have some good story ideas for next week, but graduation, finals, and classes are on my mind. School is my priority right now, being that I am just about to finish college.

Jazmine Woodberry will be doing the final “Everyone has a Story” feature on me, so be sure to read that one as well. I’ll most definitely post it on this blog.

Please, please keep your fingers for me to do well in my courses. School is literally giving me a pit in my stomach because I just want to be done and get on with my life, which, I can already tell, will be outstanding, thrilling, and much more fulfilling than coursework.

ASUA Student Body Alumni Dinner

It’s the beginning of a new week, and I have a news story in Monday’s Wildcat about 13 ex-presidents gathering to welcome Emily Fritze into her ASUA presidency position.

It was a great experience to meet with so many former ASUA student body presidents because I learned a lot about the history of the university. The article is definitely worth reading just to see what some of the other presidents had to deal with during their time in office.

Thursday’s news and opinions

Be sure to read my news story on the April 7 ASUA meeting, which was centered around fashion show funding, as well as my column on romantic comedy issues.

Two stories for Thursday

Don’t forget to read today’s issue of the Wildcat, and while you’re at it, read my “Everyone Has a Story” segment on history professor Michael Bonner, a southerner and former tutor for the cast of “All That.”

You should also read my write-up on the March 24 ASUA meeting, which was when the ASUA senate denied PIRG a special election.

Definitely check out those two stories! I have an opinions column in tomorrow’s paper, and then I’m free for the weekend! I’ll have even more great stories for you next week as well.

The news editor just hired three new reporters, and one of them has already written a phenomenal story on Live Fit. Go read it!

News stories for today

Read my story on the upcoming ASUA meeting and yesterday’s Innovation Day.

Happy Friday

Before you commence with your Spring Break festivities, read my column about why schools should permit same-sex prom dates and news story on the $2 million donation for the Arizona Assurance scholarship.

Normally, I wouldn’t draw attention to a mailbag letter, but this particular letter to the editor is phenomenal and should be framed. Too bad the majority of ASUA voters couldn’t have this kind of insight when they elected eight unqualified senators (I’m not including Adams and Mariner. I actually foresee them as the new senate’s only hope). Anyway, read this letter:

Popularity contested

Finally, the popularity contest that is the ASUA senatorial race has concluded. Now my Facebook news feed can be saved from the constant “vote for (insert name here)” status updates and group invites. Once again, I can hear about that horse stable somebody built on FarmVille or those fantastic heart gifts. No longer do I have to be told to vote for someone because they’re a “great person.” I can once again walk down the halls of my dorm without hearing a candidate whining about an editorial that was critical of his campaign “platform.”

However, I must congratulate the winning candidates; you have all done a superb job of pulling the friend card and showing masterful use of social networking. Your three-word campaign posters and irrelevant witty slogans, like “sax appeal”, were most effective in taking you “Myles” and capturing the vote of the mundane. Their undying allegiance to your campaigns is incredible and concerning, all at the same time. Again, I say congratulations on recognizing that this race was about who could accrue the most hits on his Facebook group page. Now, the real challenge has arrived: representing 40,000+ students. I hope candy-coated platforms of Gandhi quotes and “ABCs” have something under that chocolate shell.

Mason Storm Byrd
Political science freshman

Opinion pieces in the DW

Check out my latest opinion column on the March 4 nationwide budget cut protests.

The Wildcat opinions page has definitely been a source of serious titillation as of late.

Other notable columns include opinions editor Anna Swenson’s story on ASUA candidates and editor in chief Lance Madden’s response to constant Wildcat criticism.

Read up!

News stories, ASUA endorsements

So, don’t forget to read my two riveting news stories in tomorrow’s issue of the Wildcat.

News stories
Serial ceral eaters Boxx it out
News $500 Fee

Oh, and be sure to read the Wildcat’s ASUA endorsements at this link.