Age equals Beauty

hen I turned 22 in November, I was a little depressed. After 21, I thought I had no more birthdays to look forward to. After all, what exciting things are left to celebrate? I can already drive, buy lottery tickets and drink. Of course, I’m always thankful to have another year of life and health, but 22 represents a new era of adulthood, and it puts me one step closer to those black “Over the hill” party supplies reserved for 40- and 50-year-olds.\nBy now, I’ve ended my aging blues and I’m ready to celebrate another wonderful birthday: 141. The Indiana Daily Student turned 141 Friday, and I couldn’t be happier.\nMany of our readers know the IDS is a proud campus tradition, but many of them don’t know how unique it is. We’ve been documenting the campus, city, state, nation and world since 1867, and we’ve seen some crazy things happen. In fact, most of the top national newspapers haven’t been around for that long. The IDS is older than seven of the nation’s 10 largest newspapers. Business students, you know that Wall Street Journal you have to pick up every day for class? Well, we’ve been around longer – 22 years longer. And to all the political science enthusiasts, did you know that by the time The Washington Post fired up its printing presses, we had already been documenting elections for 10 years? The Los Angeles Times earned an honorary star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 for its 125th birthday. That same year, we turned 139. And USA Today, founded in 1982, is an infant in the world of newspapers.\nThe only three of the nation’s 10 largest newspapers that are older than us are The New York Times, the New York Post and the Chicago Tribune.\nWe’re also independent of the University, which is a rarity and a tremendous accomplishment. Other student media outlets across the country aren’t so lucky, and constantly face censorship and termination of funding because of their ties to their respective schools.\nOn behalf of the staff, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the paper’s success throughout the years, especially the readers.\nIn celebration of this momentous event, I want to express how lucky we all are to have the IDS. As a staff, we have the good fortune to cover this University and to ask tough questions without fear of censorship or loss of funding. Readers can get detailed coverage of issues that affect them, invite us to cover their news and express their opinions whenever they like. Alumni have a continuous link to campus through the IDS Web site. The paper is a rich part of IU history, and it has documented generations of the biggest news to hit Bloomington.\nIf you haven’t interacted with the IDS much, I encourage you to start reading, send us a press release, come see us or write a letter to the editor. We’d love to hear from you.\nAnd help us celebrate. After all, 141 never felt \nso good.