2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Opinion
The enigma that was Daniel Carmody
I was very sad to hear of Daniel Carmody's death. As a College Park resident and former Diamondback reporter, I was able to spend plenty of time in the lobby of City Hall with Mr. Carmody paying parking tickets, picking up documents or just talking before the council meetings.
I was fascinated by the glimpses of his life I got in those moments: the Navy service in Antarctica, the vast collection of books, but his private nature left me wondering more. I tried, and failed, to get him to talk more when developers renovating his apartment building to charge more rent to students threatened to evict him from his tiny apartment full of his life's collected books, computers and souvenirs. I graduated before finding out more, and now I am saddened to hear that so much of this unusual and interesting man's life will likely remain a mystery.
If anyone reading this has contact with Mr. Carmody's family, please pass along my condolences. Thank you for acknowledging his passing.
Matthew Santoni
Class of 2005
Former Diamondback reporter
Take time to wind down
I'm glad that you found time to read this newspaper. Many college students don't make time to read the paper, take naps, visit the gym or even eat regular meals. College is stressful, no doubt. We face the pressures of figuring out our majors and careers, attempting to be active outside of class, working jobs, staying healthy and maintaining our friendships and relationships. Our attempts to stay on top of everything often amount to sleepless nights, long to-do lists and the occasional mental breakdown. We spend our lives trying to strike a balance among these things. We all ultimately want to discover the work, people and experiences that make us most complete. In college, where no time is too late or too last minute, in a place where our personal and academic lives overlap, how many of us have a stable lifestyle?
Here on the brink of the most stressful time of the semester, this is a call for everyone to reflect, rethink and revive yourselves! Among the busy people running around this campus, there are dozens of students dedicating their lives this next week-and-a-half to running Student Government Association campaigns. We aren't eating, sleeping or relaxing nearly enough to maintain our mental and physical health, yet we are fueled by the desire to become the voice of our fellow students.
We and our fellow SGA candidates in the HOUSE Party understand the importance of stepping up and taking matters into our own hands while relating to the ambitious students we'll represent. Take it from us, the exhausted and admittedly human politicians: We should all have high standards for ourselves and others, but we all have our limits. I urge you to not just take, but MAKE a moment to celebrate a beautiful day: take a nap, call an old friend, read the paper and chill.
Margo Nagel
Sophomore
Government and politics
Candidate for BSOS Legislator
HOUSE PARTY
Joanna Calabrese
Sophomore
Environmental policy
Candidate for Senior Vice President
HOUSE PARTY
Air Your Views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 550 and 700 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Letters can also be submitted online here.
I was very sad to hear of Daniel Carmody's death. As a College Park resident and former Diamondback reporter, I was able to spend plenty of time in the lobby of City Hall with Mr. Carmody paying parking tickets, picking up documents or just talking before the council meetings.
I was fascinated by the glimpses of his life I got in those moments: the Navy service in Antarctica, the vast collection of books, but his private nature left me wondering more. I tried, and failed, to get him to talk more when developers renovating his apartment building to charge more rent to students threatened to evict him from his tiny apartment full of his life's collected books, computers and souvenirs. I graduated before finding out more, and now I am saddened to hear that so much of this unusual and interesting man's life will likely remain a mystery.
If anyone reading this has contact with Mr. Carmody's family, please pass along my condolences. Thank you for acknowledging his passing.
Matthew Santoni
Class of 2005
Former Diamondback reporter
Take time to wind down
I'm glad that you found time to read this newspaper. Many college students don't make time to read the paper, take naps, visit the gym or even eat regular meals. College is stressful, no doubt. We face the pressures of figuring out our majors and careers, attempting to be active outside of class, working jobs, staying healthy and maintaining our friendships and relationships. Our attempts to stay on top of everything often amount to sleepless nights, long to-do lists and the occasional mental breakdown. We spend our lives trying to strike a balance among these things. We all ultimately want to discover the work, people and experiences that make us most complete. In college, where no time is too late or too last minute, in a place where our personal and academic lives overlap, how many of us have a stable lifestyle?
Here on the brink of the most stressful time of the semester, this is a call for everyone to reflect, rethink and revive yourselves! Among the busy people running around this campus, there are dozens of students dedicating their lives this next week-and-a-half to running Student Government Association campaigns. We aren't eating, sleeping or relaxing nearly enough to maintain our mental and physical health, yet we are fueled by the desire to become the voice of our fellow students.
We and our fellow SGA candidates in the HOUSE Party understand the importance of stepping up and taking matters into our own hands while relating to the ambitious students we'll represent. Take it from us, the exhausted and admittedly human politicians: We should all have high standards for ourselves and others, but we all have our limits. I urge you to not just take, but MAKE a moment to celebrate a beautiful day: take a nap, call an old friend, read the paper and chill.
Margo Nagel
Sophomore
Government and politics
Candidate for BSOS Legislator
HOUSE PARTY
Joanna Calabrese
Sophomore
Environmental policy
Candidate for Senior Vice President
HOUSE PARTY
Air Your Views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 550 and 700 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Letters can also be submitted online here.
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