The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Opinions

Extraordinary Mary

After 28 years of keeping us organized, our office manager is bidding adieu.

Hail Mary.

Our Mary - Mary Straub, the office manager for The Red & Black, unlocked the front door of our building on Baxter Street for her very last time today. After 28 years of keeping The Red & Black efficient, organized and sane, she is retiring. She has worked at The Red & Black longer than any other staff member, and this is our salute to her dedication.

As students pursuing the competitive industry of print journalism, we feel lucky to have The Red & Black as a medium to express ourselves, gain experience, and make the inevitable mistake or two without getting fired. It is the individuals on our permanent staff, such as Mary, who make this possible.

As one editor put it, she's "The Red & Black's Superwoman."

She's the boss of the big things - such as keeping track of and mailing bills to our advertisers. And she's an expert at the little things - such as making sure every desk editor has a full tape dispenser at the beginning of each semester.

As a student publication, our staffs come and go. We change editors every semester and we hire new writers almost every day.

Mary is the one face that has been a constant for The Red & Black, but has treated every employee, no matter how tenured, with equal compassion, patience and hospitality.

So here's to you, Superwoman. And here's to 28 years of relaxation and reflection - you deserve it.

- Chelsea Cook for the editorial board

Crucial coverage

Protect yourself against the unexpected and unwanted with renters insurance.

Ah, living the college life. With Spring Break mere hours away, we're now carefree and invincible, right?

Wrong.

One early morning last week, four University alumni - roommates - woke as flames tore through their Clarke County home.

The house suffered $84,000 in damage, not including the $25,000 damage to contents inside. That'll singe a hole in your pockets pretty quickly, especially if you don't have renters insurance - which none of these four had.

So although you may think this can't happen to you, remember - it can.

And before it does, we suggest you invest in renters insurance, which "covers your possessions against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and water damage from plumbing," according to athensnews.com.

Keep in mind many companies offer deals for renters insurance if you have another policy with them already.

We understand you may not want to add yet another expense to your already tight budget, but paying small monthly fees beats doling out more than $100,000 if disaster strikes.

Cliché though it may be, better safe than sorry.

- Kelly Shaul for the editorial board

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