In the final days of Winter Term, Seniors in charge of the major media outlets on campus handed over their keys to a new wave of Upper editors and managers. Although leadership roles in these publications take time and effort, the outgoing heads of Backtracks, the Courant, Frontline, Pot Pourri, and WPAA found it difficult to give up their positions. “It is very, very hard for me to hand the board over,” said outgoing WPAA Stage Manager Alex Lebow ’05. “[When I] handed over my keys, [it] was the final indicator that I had to hand over my position.” Backtracks, the campus’s oldest general interest magazine, compiles a hodgepodge of Andover student writing and art, specifically essays, reviews, opinion articles, drawings, and photography. Outgoing Co-Editors-In-Chief Nina Beinart ’05 and Shawn Fu ’05 selected Marysia Blackwood ’06 as the new Editor. About the changes she wants to make in the upcoming year, Blackwood said, “I think our new board should strive towards closer cooperation while maintaining a high level of innovation and creativity. Diversity of content is one of the magazine’s greatest assets, and I think our board should pursue it more actively by being more aggressive in terms of attracting new writers and campaigning for submissions.” She continued, “After all, Backtracks is fundamentally about showcasing good writing. I would also like to step up promotion and bring Backtracks to a wider audience both on and off campus.” The Courant, Andover’s literary magazine, publishes creative writing by the students and occasionally by a faculty member. “The goal of the Courant is to share with the community the creative power of Andover, to entertain, and provoke thought,” said Sonia DeYoung ’05, the outgoing Courant Editor-In-Chief. “It’s such a big job, and can be very stressful, but it is so satisfying to see the end result. I’m really glad I got the chance to do it.” DeYoung and her Co-Editor Chloe Hurley ’05 chose Ben Lasman ’06 and Lynette Lee ’06 as their successors for Editors-In-Chief. DeYoung said, “I have very high hopes for the new Editors,” and pointed out that the Courant’s new board is enthusiastic about the upcoming issues. Lee commented, “Ben and I are going to increase readership and get people to know and learn what the Courant really is. We don’t want to just sell the magazine, we want the campus to appreciate the literacy talent at this school.” After not printing any issues during the 2003-2004 school year, Frontline, Andover’s political magazine, re-emerged this year thanks to the leadership of Editor-In-Chief Morrissa Sobelson ’05. Sobelson said, “I was extremely impressed with the level of interest, enthusiasm, and commitment that this year’s entire board has brought to the publication, particularly during such an exciting time in the national political arena.” Kevin McCarthy ’06 has taken over Sobelson’s position as Frontline’s Editor-In-Chief. As Andover’s yearbook, the Pot Pourri records major events throughout Fall and Winter Terms, and offers a chance for the seniors to say their good-byes in the Senior Pages section. The spring supplement of the yearbook will be produced by the incoming board and will be distributed in September. Tess Scott ’06 succeeded the former Editor-In-Chief Katie Hunckler’05 as Pot Pourri’s new Editor. The WPAA radio station not only hosts daily music and talk shows that are accessible through PANet, but also organizes weekend dances and concerts on campus. The former General Manager, Anthony Reyes ’05, and the rest of the senior board, handed down the reins to General Manager Sam Woolford ’06, and Co-Station Managers Colin Calabrese ’06 and Dan Taylor ’06. Woolford said, “Even though GM is a big responsibility, I’m excited for the opportunity to make WPAA a better, more professional radio station. I also hope to continue what Reyes did to make the radio station a bigger part of student life.” When asked about his experience as a co-head of a major publication, former Backtracks Editor Fu reflected, “It’s definitely been a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, I won’t be spending every moment between and after classes camped out in front of the computer in the student publications office, but on the other, Backtracks was something that I greatly enjoyed producing.”
