Welcome or welcome back to another week of “In the key of E.” It’s been a while, so let’s just jump right in.
Weekly recap
Like I said, it’s been a while. Three weeks, to be exact. I forgot how ingrained writing this article is in my weekly routine, and I honestly missed it.
Spring break was sub-par but felt way too short. I was home alone with my dog, Nala. My parents and brother went to Arizona and I decided to stay home. Why? I would have been absolutely no fun. I had so many assignments and projects to work on over the break that I would have spent at least three out of the eight days there skipping activities.
I did use my adultish freedom and took a trip to Madison to visit my absolute favorite store, Half Price Books. They have almost everything I’m obsessed with: books, vinyl, CDs, board games and tote bags. I walked out that day with a hefty stack of books and vinyl and I’m not ashamed.
Other than that, I didn’t do much else. I did watch a lot of “The Walking Dead,” which I have in the past called overrated. Do I still think it is? Yes, kind of. But by the end of it, you get really attached to the characters. In a show where not many of them make it, that’s a harsh love to have.
I dreaded coming back to Eau Claire. But here I am, making my way through the few weeks left as graduation approaches. Now, onto my school week.
I really don’t have much to say about classes. I have been pretty consumed by projects and other assignments, so class almost felt like it was interrupting my work time. I also didn’t feel the greatest, and maybe that’s because of the amount of work I was and still am doing.
My saving graces were definitely The Spectator and Blugold Radio.
On the radio, we had a meeting and recorded our weekly show. Cora and I managed to go on a long, earth-shattering rant about nature versus nurture and whether or not there’s a “right” way to do this whole life thing. I think it’s safe to say I left that conversation freaked out and overthinking.
I ended up taking four stories for The Spectator. The limit is three, but after Chancellor Schmidt announced his resignation, we were invited to a press conference for that. That ended my week for the most part. I did stay in Hibbard Hall five hours past closing time, but that’s to be expected with me at this point.
From me to you
Last week Floyd Abrams, a renowned First Amendment lawyer known for his fight for press freedoms, visited Eau Claire. Attendees of the event watched a film about his work as a lawyer that was directed by Yael Melamede, who was also in attendance.
Abrams was one of the lawyers that The New York Times sought legal counsel from during New York Times Co. v. United States (1971). It was a landmark case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not prevent the publication of the “Pentagon Papers,” a classified study about the Vietnam War.
If Abrams and his colleagues had lost the case, it would have meant that the government could bar journalists from publishing anything that they considered to be “national security.”
It gave me a lot of comfort while watching the film that day to know that there are lawyers out there who are willing to fight to protect my ability to pursue a career in the near future.
Especially now, as reports continue to flood my news feed regarding the White House’s announcement that they will be selecting and limiting the reporters that are allowed access to Donald Trump.
Not to mention, Trump announced during his campaign that he would jail reporters if they refused to give up identities of anonymous sources. This, which was mentioned in the film about Abrams, is a type of protection journalists still don’t have against the government.
Journalists like Judith Miller and Vanessa Leggett were jailed for refusing to reveal their sources who wanted to stay anonymous. This, to me, is genuinely unbelievable.
But I try to remain hopeful throughout times like these. To think that I’ve shaken hands with people like Abrams, Faye Wattleton, Patrick Marley and Laura Warrell in my journalism career solely as a student so far is so exciting and slightly crazy. It makes me excited to find out who else I might meet as I pursue this career.
Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
Reading: For class, I’m reading “Tomboyland” by Melissa Faliveno and “Body Work” by Melissa Febos. For fun, “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes and “My Life With Words” by Barbara F. Luebke.
I’m almost done with “Me Before You.” If you know anything about this book, you know that I’m about to be so emotionally wrecked after finishing it. So I’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Eating: Pastina.
I’m obsessed. That’s all.
Playing: : “Older (and Wiser)” by Lizzy McAlpine
I will never get sick of this album. I highly recommend that everyone reading this listen to it at least once in their lives.
Obsessing: Projects
I have so much to do. I am, in fact, frantically typing this.
Recommending: Like I said, listen to “Calico.”
Treating: Strawberry matcha from The Goat.
Am I sitting drinking one as I type? Yes. And it’s making this a much more enjoyable experience in the midst of all of this stress.
Thank you so much for joining me once again. Take care of yourselves. Sending lots of love.
-E.
Braun can be reached at braunee6220@uwec.edu.
