Pulis

Memories from a former Scrollie

Dana Moss Pulis Guest Writer

My years at Scroll constitute some of my choicest memories and form the basis for a huge part of my life today.

I was at Scroll from 1987 to 1990 and served in the capacities of news editor and managing editor. Like many Scrollies before me, I lived in that little newsroom. I would arrive there in the early morning with my breakfast and at lunch I ate there as well. In between classes, I stopped in to do work or talk to my Scroll family.

I remember many, many times being at night working while the 2 a.m. staff was cleaning. I would go home, sleep and shower and head back the next day.

I spent many hours in the dark building by the light of the computer. The Scroll was it — my friends, my family, my learning, my life.

Lee Warnick came as adviser my sophomore year. He walked in to a newspaper literally run by students with little to no supervision or guidance.

We were doing our own thing in some weird fashion — something akin to Latter-day Saint journalist renegades. The man cringed, yelled and suffered more than most grown men ever know.

But we were eager, and we slopped up our messes and got it together. I remember going through a particular time when I was bent on being a “real journalist” and digging up any dirt I could on the college. I tried to chase down any potential stories of good guys gone bad (luckily none existed). Lee called me into his office and asked me what I was working on. I read off a litany of stories with potential corrupt school officials as the main focus.

He stared at me in silence and said, “What in the world are you doing?” I left with a changed perspective on my job.

Above all, I learned hard work and professionalism during my Scroll years.

Today I am a professional writer, and companies call me because I work hard and get the job done.

I have a special place in my heart for Scroll. I cried when they bulldozed the Jacob Spori building and cheered when they rebuilt it. I knew it could now last another 100 plus years so more students like me could live at Scroll and learn about newspapers and life.