Dearest freshmen,

As you cast your wide, innocent eyes across the sprawling complexity of the University of Alabama campus, consider the aged, sagging building next to Reese Phifer Hall on University Boulevard. As a celebrity on “Cribs” might say, that is where the magic happens—where this newspaper is produced four days a week.

I know a myriad of options, pitches and free swag are being thrown at you from all directions right now, but I am going to offer you five great reasons you should put off buying those pesky textbooks at the SUPe Store and run to the Office of Student Media RIGHT NOW to join the Crimson White staff.

1. You can gain experience – Most obviously, The Crimson White is a great opportunity to learn about reporting, photography, design, editing, web development, video production, social media, advertising and more. There is no better time than college to get your hands dirty, make mistakes and learn from those errors. Whether you want to be an investigative reporter or a graphic designer, the CW has options for you.

2. You can make a difference on campus – Working at the Crimson White, you can provide tens of thousands of students with vital information to help them in their everyday lives. You can uncover important stories that expose wrongdoing and improve campus life for all. You can provide individuals of every background an opportunity to broadcast their voices to thousands. There are countless ways to make a difference working at The CW and actively engaging the University community.

3. You can get paid – I bet your eyes flicked to this point first. Dozens of our staffers receive monthly salaries, from the editor-in-chief to staff reporters and photographers. While we also have a legion of unpaid contributors, and you’ll have to work your way up, if you stick with the paper there will be green pastures ahead.

4. You can travel to the national championship/get into movies for free/get free food/stand on the sideline at a football game – Although a job in journalism is a lot of work, it also has a lot of perks. Thanks to the support of the Office of Student Media, CW staff are often able to attend conferences, movies and even Bama football games for free as they work on projects for the paper and develop as journalists. Again, longevity is the key to seeing these kinds of rewards.

5. You can be part of a community – Perhaps most importantly, The CW offers you the opportunity to create lifelong friends who share your passions. The frenzy of meeting deadline and adapting to the crazy events that go on around campus creates a communal bond that is difficult to break. One day you may find yourself calling this dingy frat house-turned-newsroom home.

Whether you were the editor of your high school paper or have a newfound interest in journalism, The CW is the place for you. It’s a great way to learn a lot about the campus as a freshman and make new friends. Look out for our table at Get on Board Day next week, and e-mail me at [email protected] if you’re ready to get involved. Somewhere out there is the next crop of CW leaders, and I look forward to meeting all of you.

Victor Luckerson is the editor-in-chief of The Crimson White.

In short: “E-mail editor Victor Luckerson [email protected] to get involved with The Crimson White.”