Exclusive Interview with Hajizada's Girlfriend; Judge Rejects Appeal

Updated stories on Adnan Hajizada, arrested on charges of hooliganism in his native Azerbaijan, where he is a political activist.

Professors sign letter supporting Hajizada as pretrial hearing delayed to July 20

Girlfriend says injuries untreated as judge rejects detention appeal

Dan Petty and I worked on the story last night, with me sending him what I had at about 1:30 a.m. California time (he's in Denver). Then I got a text message saying Hajizada's girlfriend had sent him a very long message right about then. Apparently Dan stayed up until about 5 a.m. to finish and post this story. Go Dan! You are good at what you do.

Collegian

So this was an interesting article I wrote this week. And, of course, today was the day that 400 prospective students and their families came to campus...

And also this one! Another great intro to those visiting us for the first time.

Presidential Election

Tuesday was quite a historic day that I am so proud to have been a part of, no matter who won. Now it's time for the United States to come together and get through all of the nastiness that is our economy and the war and everything else that could possibly be going wrong right now.

It's a good time to be a journalist. And if it's a good time to be a journalist, it means its a bad time to be everyone else...

We did some live blogging during the election viewing parties the Center for Civic Engagement held. It was a crazy night. I do have to say that I think Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert did the best reporting of the night.

Fall Break!

Finally some time off to sleep and read something not assigned in a class.

Every year we have a Fall Break at UR that is really only a four day weekend but it comes at the same time as mid-terms. Everyone seems to be at the point of exploding right about now making a four day weekend appreciated more than summer it seems. And I actually get five days because both of my classes for today were canceled! And because of the break there will be no Collegian next week. While that makes me sad because I love The Collegian, it will be nice to have a week with some actual free time. The timing is perfect as well because next Wednesday is Josh's and my sixth month anniversary.

I do love less work and more time.

Especially since this week was pretty crazy at The Collegian. There was a very large breaking news story this week which you can read here. It is pretty disgusting (not in a gross, icky bug sense but a I-can't-believe-people-behave-that-way sense) but unfortunately not surprising. When you read the article you will understand.

Anyway, it was a big deal that took a lot of time and arguing but eventually came out OK. Now everyone is ready for a break.

On a happier note, I wrote two briefs for this week. I am also doing pretty well in my Copy Editing class which makes for good times. I've started looking for internships, which is fun and exciting and scary all at the same time. And the speech I thought I was going to have to give last Thursday I don't have to give until Oct. 23.

So life is pretty good. If you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for a fancy dinner with my boyfriend.

Live Blogging

Yesterday I did some live blogging during the presidential debate for The Collegian. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad I got the opportunity to do it. And I got to watch the debate at the same time.

Good times.

Here it is.

Another week

Things are calm and fall is here.

Seriously, fall just showed up. It's like fall came up behind summer and pulled an "Et tu Brute?" And I am so glad it did. While summer is my favorite season in California, summer in Virginia equals humidity and humidity does not equal good times. But fall is nice and dry with warm days and cool nights that let me cuddle up in my bathrobe with my tea and read a book. But it also means my feet are often cold. Uggs, here I come! (Maybe, seeing as I'm a poor college student and Uggs are about $160...)

The Collegian this week was also good times. We got out later, 3 a.m., but the paper looks great and I got to cover a breaking news story. It's not up online yet but when it is I will post a link. I also had a story printed that I turned in last week for Practicum, viewable here.

And now, because of Fall Break (four day weekend next week), we won't put out a Collegian two weeks from now so no Practicum story! While I love writing and reporting, it's nice to have a few weeks off to relax and take care of mid-terms, which are the next two weeks. I am giving a speech for Rhetoric and Public Address on Thursday, praising newspapers and newspaper journalists. I'm still working on the manuscript but I think it will be a good one because I will be able to speak from personal experience and journalism is definitely something I'm passionate about.

The next week I have a Copy Editing mid-term which will not be too complicated but I want to do extremely well on it so I can get an A in the class. While it's not necessary and grades really have no bearing on whether or not I get a job when I graduate or much else, I would like to keep my major GPA at a 4.0 just for my own sake. I don't get Bs.

And now I get to enjoy a relaxed, minimal work weekend while in my bathrobe, drinking a hot cup tea.

The Collegian is slowly taking over my life...

...and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Especially when my story is on the front page two weeks in a row!
Week 1 Week 2

I'm writing a story every week for Practicum which takes up a good chunk of time with all of the research and interviews and then finally the writing. Then on Monday and Tuesday I spend a few hours in the office getting some of my pages together. Then Wednesday I am in the office from 7 p.m. until we finish the paper. Last week we set a record by getting out at 1 a.m.

And yet I am enjoying the work so much that it doesn't feel like work. Sometimes the lack of sleep catches up to me but that's what naps and weekends are for. Like last night when I slept for 12.5 hours.

Top Story

You got it! My article about the tuition increase for next year was the top story of this weeks Collegian!!!!!!

Happy dance time.

Stop.

Break it down.

Do do do do do do do do do. O o o o o o o o o o. Da da!

Here is the link to the main page.

Here is the story.

I also have a story on page 3 about how the university spent its money in 2005 based on a tax form. Unfortunately the link isn't working so you'll just have to believe me when I tell you. Hahaha!

I also wrote three briefs that were on page 2 which are also not on the website. Sorry.

Anyway, yeah! I definitely feel accomplished and am proud of my work. This journalism thing is definitely working out for me.

The Collegian

Here is this weeks.

I wrote three campus briefs that are not online unfortunately. Still a good paper.

For the upcoming and last issue of the year I am writing a long story about the upcoming tuition increase. We'll see what happens with that.

More News

It's another Thursday at The Collegian. Only this time we are very close to being done and it is only (I say only...) 12:45am.

Everyone came early and did what they could in advance so that we could all go to sleep before the sun comes up. So far it looks like that is actually going to be the case and I am happy about that.

I realized I have been neglecting you, my proud and few readers, by not putting up a link to last weeks Collegian. So here it is.

The link may change when this weeks paper is put out tomorrow. If I remember/have the time I will correct it.

Until then, enjoy!

I'm Back in the News Room Again

And it is good times.

Last week we were done with the paper at 4 a.m. Righ now it is 4:04 a.m. and I am waiting for approval on my last page and then I can go to sleep. At least this week I don't have to get up in the morning for any reason. I could probably sleep all day...

Minus the fact that I have homework and two tests on Friday and a weekend retreat to prepare for.

Good times.

PS: I'll put up a link for the paper tomorrow and none for last week. And I will have new puppy pictures probably Sunday. She is so cute and I get to bring her home in less than two weeks!

In the Newsroom

I am sitting in The Collegian newsroom at 1:05am Thursday morning waiting for my page edits from the editors.

I feel like a journalist. A very tired yet satisfied journalist.

I'll post a link to the paper when it comes up online tomorrow.

News News News

You are reading the words of one of the newest Assistant News Editors for the University of Richmond's student run newspaper, The Collegian! I start right after Spring Break and will work in this position until Spring Break next year, unless I get promoted of course. : )

Front Page

That's right! I mentioned that I wrote and submitted my first article to The Collegian and got a "nice work!" from my News Writing professor.

Well...

It's being published! And not just published, it's being published on the FRONT PAGE!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da

Ha ha ha!

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited. I'll take a picture of it and post it so you guys can see it.

I feel so accomplished. I have actually found something I am passionate about AND good at. I have a possible career... This is really strange and going to take some time to get used to.

Go college!

They Like Me...

They really like me!

I wrote an article about a Super Tuesday Results Viewing Party put on by the University of Richmond's Center for Civic Engagement and submitted it to the school paper, The Collegian. The party ended a little after midnight and I e-mailed the story around 2:30am.

I have no idea if it will be published especially since this is my first article, ever, I've never written for The Collegian before (obviously if this is my first article...) and they might not have enough room.

But! My News Writing professor said, "Nice work! I hope they use it." And that was all I needed to hear.

My first article got a "nice work!"!

I think I need a nap now...