Dear DU,
Thank you for rescuing my college experience, something I had once written off as an impossibility. A freshman and sophomore stint at CU Boulder wrought with COVID-19 and hardships left me to concede university life as something that could not be enjoyed; a necessary yet burdensome obstacle I had to confront and overcome. It was my brief yet rewarding year and a half at this university that reanimated my sense of purpose and belonging through providing me with direction and opportunity.
Addressing this letter to you may seem odd considering you being an academic institution, but of course DU is more than just buildings, branding and an education; it’s the people. And I can confidently say that at this university, I have met some of the most extraordinary and remarkable individuals I will ever know.
From passionate ethics debates in Senate and pushing philanthro-piggy banks with the DU Student Foundation, to excessively consuming candy corn with DU Programming Board’s Explo Committee and talkin’ tunes with KXDU, I have met amazing people and enjoyed countless experiences in every corner of south Denver.
The Clarion is among them. As a political science major, my path to student journalism was unexpected yet rewarding. It started at CU with The Bold, where I quickly fell in love with journalism and reporting, a perfect combination of my passion for writing and interest in news and politics. My adoration for journalism had grown so strong that before even considering transferring to this university, I made sure the Crimson and Gold had a student newspaper.
Writing for the Clarion and leading the News Section has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and I am excited to see how the Clarion evolves in the years to come. I am beyond certain the publication will excel under the leadership of Aubrey Cox and Ambriel Speagle, and that the News section will continue to thrive with extensive, substantive reporting under Annabelle Kiely. To all those I have had the pleasure of working alongside at the Clarion, thank you for the wonderful memories and endearing friendships. Write on!
As I conclude this chapter of my life, I must acknowledge those who helped write it. Without the enduring love, strength and support from my mother Misty, father Dennis, brother Jason, the Logan boys out west and Unbehauns down south, I would not be where I am today. To my grandfather and namesake Matthew “Lou” Logan, grandmother Jeanne, and great aunt Sally, you have been with me in my heart always and eternally remain a source of guidance and inspiration.
While I will miss taking a spill on the ice-ridden sidewalks, envying Chancellor Haefner’s chilly sneaker game and listening to the melodies of the gold–peaked Williams Belltower, it is time to go. There are moments I wonder what I could have done differently to have spent more time at DU, but the answer is always the same: I wouldn’t change a single thing, for it all led me here.
Signing off, with love,
Matthew Logan
