The Plot Thickens

Hi, my name is J

Two and a half years ago I attended my first pitch night. I was much more excited than nervous and I pitched a story about James Cameron claiming that the film Wonder Woman wasn’t feminist. I was lucky and soon-to-be-editor-in-chief Tessa Blair picked my story for a point/counterpoint. When Tessa asked if anyone was interested in writing the other side, a person on the other side of the room spoke up and was given the assignment. After pitch ended, I went over to talk to that other person, we decided who would do what side, exchanged numbers, and I added the contact Jaleesia Fobbs to my phone.

Now, two point five years later, I’d say the rest is history and even though that phrase means nothing in this context because neither of us are famous, it’s still true. Aside from meeting my roommates and a few other people who I’m not still in contact with, Jaleesia was the first friend I made in college. We met each other through the newspaper and now her and I are the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor of The Sentry.

I’ve always admired Jaleesia for many reasons. She’s a communications major and creative writing minor, the two things I always thought I would study in college before I decided my true calling was film. She’s smart, if that wasn’t already apparent. She’s genuine in her feelings, and funny. And her hair is pretty great too.

She may not be the best at keeping up with all the movies I tell her about (she still hasn’t watched Us) but I’m not great at keeping up with Twin Peaks either (I’m barely into season two and I’ve been watching for almost a year), so we’re even. Jaleesia is great for talking about literature with, just the same as I can always share complaints about procrastination with her. She’s been my mother and made me dinner on a number of occasions; we’ve sat in fear together watching Rosemary’s Baby; we’ve danced for hours, side by side at both of our first time at a club; and we’ve nerded out together walking around the museums and historic sites of Washington, D.C. We’ve been to so many thrift stores.

If Jaleesia hadn’t been forced into applying for Managing Editor at the end of our freshman year, I would not have had someone to distract me until it was seven o’clock and I still hadn’t finished my column. I also wouldn’t have had one of my closest friends hire me as their Managing Editor, and eventually pass the Editor-in-Chief torch to me. I know the current situation isn’t how Jaleesia wanted to end her time at The Sentry or at CU Denver, but hopefully she knows just how fantastic of a job she’s done.