Exit Letter: Tapti Says Ta-Ta

Believe it or not, I actually joined The Amherst Student intending to join the A&L section. After years of working as an opinion editor in my high school’s newspaper, I wanted to branch out and approach student journalism from a different — perhaps less drama-filled — perspective. Nonetheless, standing under the white tent on the First Year Quad in September, I felt compelled to put my name down for the opinion mailing list as well, for reasons I still don’t quite know why. A warning, perhaps, that you can never truly escape the opinion section.

Fast-forward to October 2021, when former Managing Opinion Editor Scott Brasesco ’22 invited me to be an opinion editor, and without much thought, I let my half-hearted A&L dreams go.

Working as an Opinion editor for the past three and a half years has been an undeniably tumultuous experience, from arguments and escalations with uncooperative writers to influxes of articles (at times with a side of doxxing) in relation to geopolitical events. At times, it feels like a thanklessly exhausting job. My friends have often asked me why I’ve continued to stay with The Student even with the massive time commitment, the academic stress, and the sleepless Tuesday nights it forces upon me.

But even through the stress and fatigue and tears, even as others left and graduated, I stayed — for two reasons mostly. Firstly, the obvious: I loved being an opinion editor. I love editing people’s arguments, working to make them stronger, playing devil’s advocate (even if I agree with the author, especially if I agree with the author). Even the more “boring” parts of editing, like copy-editing, is strangely soothing. And on a philosophical level, I’m proud to have contributed to student dialogue and discourse on this campus, even in this tiny way. At a time in our cultural zeitgeist when the status of the free press is increasingly precarious, I would argue that journalism, even student journalism, plays a super important role.

My second reason for staying is The Student newsroom itself.  I have had the privilege to meet some of the coolest, smartest people on this campus through The Student — people who I likely otherwise might never have spoken to. I’ve had so much fun in this basement room in Morrow Dormitory. Sitting here right now and writing this, countless memories montage in my mind — arguing whether or not Frost Library counts as “dark academia;” conversations ranging from geopolitics to relationship drama; newsroom bingos;  annual Holiday Moose celebrations; weekly ranking of goldfish flavors courtesy of Michael Mason ’25; sleeping in the newsroom on those too-late nights; listening to the most eclectic combination of songs from the newsroom playlist; spending way too long coming up with Editorial titles — there’s so much more I’d mention if I had the space.

A lot has changed in my time here — the lumpy grey couch where I always lost my phone now has a much more respectable purple replacement — and so much has stayed the same — the Happy Birthday sign hanging in the corner, for example, since former Editor-in-Chief Yee-Lynn Lee’s ’23 birthday two years ago. It’s scary to realize how fast my time in this space has gone by. Looking back, one of my biggest regrets is that I wasn’t able to fit the words “cultural zeitgeist” into as many pieces as I wanted to. (A mission since sophomore year has been to sneak the phrase into as many editorials and pieces I wrote as possible, but unfortunately, it’s a phrase with a hyper specific use that tends to stand out.)

So many people I would like to thank and so little space to do so. In the interest of not rambling for hours, I first want to give a thank you to all the writers who have written for the opinion section over my years here, as well as the current and former editors I’ve shared this newsroom with. Even if I don’t mention you by name, know that I have cherished our time and conversations together so much.

To my fellow ’25 editors — I’m impressed by how long we’ve stuck this out, and I’ve had great memories with you guys in and out of the newsroom. Special mention to Managing Features Editor Sonia Chajet Wides ’25, my former first-year roommate, for her thoughtful edits on pieces. (Fun fact: Stearns second floor was home to four of the 10 ’25 editors: Dustin Copeland ’25, Eleanor Walsh ’25, Sonia and I. Was there something in the air?) I can’t forget to thank Managing Design Editor Brianne LaBare ’25, who let me come to her with so many layout questions. And Yee-Lynn Lee ’23 and Sam Spratford ’24, who are always missed.

Thank you to my fellow Opinions editors over the years — to former Opinion Editors Yasmin Hamilton ’24, Tara Alakahoon ’25, and Stacey Zhang ’26. To Scott Brasesco ’22, whose journalistic ethos I’m still inspired by. And of course, to Editors-in-Chief Kei Lim ’25 and Dustin Copeland ’25, for being constant companions in my time here. (Fun fact #2: When I joined, six of the 22 editors on the Board, including Kei, Dustin, and I, were in Professor Alexander George’s Fall 2021 “Logic” class. I guess journalists really love deductions.)

Finally, to Willow Delp ’26 and Edwyn Choi ’27 — you two have been an incredible source of support for me in this busy senior fall. Thank you so much for your hard work for this section, even during the most stressful and crazy times possible. I am so sad to be leaving the Ops section, but I know I’m leaving it in good hands.

All this being said, while I’m stepping down from the Editorial Board, I’d like to finally write all those articles I’ve been meaning to over the years. So — while I’m saying an official ta-ta, you’ll see my name in this newspaper for a little more.