In my three years as a staff photographer for the Daily Bruin, I’ve had the privilege of writing exactly one news article: "Burning Man festival brings community to the desert."
For those who do not know, Burning Man is a festival held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert that attracts over 35,000 people annually. I requested to go, and to my surprise, The Bruin allowed me to have nine days of seriously fun reporting.
Memories from The Bruin have made my time at UCLA worth it.
I remember the joy of my first front-page photo. The news story: "UCPD to start using tasers."
I remember covering over a hundred sporting events, witnessing championships tearfully won or denied.
I remember traveling to Seattle, Pullman, Sacramento, San Jose, Nevada, Oregon, and USC.
I remember thanking Ryan Hollins and Cedric Bozeman for an exciting season and laying the foundation to reach the first of many Final Fours.
I remember documenting an RA and budding lawyer who did Ultimate Fighting in his spare time.
I remember photographing 24 hours for the Day-in-the-Life series that runs in every graduation issue.
But it’s not the events covered, nor the places ventured that made The Bruin special. It’s the amazing people who dwell inside 118 Kerckhoff.
These include: my former editors, Mike W., Jen D., Lisa C., Jay T., John H., Andrew H., Tyson E.; fellow photographers Joyce L., Peter V., Mike C., Lawrence C.; sports editors and writers, Seth FG., Jeff E., Bryan C., Sagar P., Ben A., Gil Q., and news writers Ari B., and Harold L..
Thanks for the memories.
Michael Sun was senior staff photographer from 2005-2007 before studying abroad. He will be forever nostalgic once he graduates from the Daily Bruin with his Design | Media Arts major.