From Catherine Hopkinson, AS '98 (aliensocks@hotmail.com), former Section 2 editor, managing news editor, city news editor, student affairs editor, and assistant entertainment editor:

Well helloooooo, Review kids. It just occurred to me that this month marks five years since I first moved to New York. Five years! It's been a long time since the days of Saturday-night deadlines and stoned Budget Sundays. Here's my story so far:

I started out living in Astoria and working for New Woman magazine as a copy editor. I liked it. We had cocktails every closing Friday, and I made lots of really good friends there who are still really good friends. Just when I was getting bored, it folded and I went to work for Harper's Bazaar, the fashion mag, not to be confused with Harper's, the high-minded general-interest mag with the numbers in the back. This was where I learned that pointy shoes will never go out of style (and purchased my first pair). We also had lots of champagne toasts, and my boss took our department out to fancy lunches on a somewhat regular basis. I spent almost three years there and bolted for Allure magazine when all my friends were leaving last fall. I like it here: The people are funny and fun, and the magazine runs like a well-oiled machine. I'm still a copy editor, which isn't really all that challenging (I can spell Miuccia Prada in my sleep at this point), but it is stress-free and affords me a significant amount of downtime.

With this time I entertain myself and my devoted following (including the occasional stalker) with my website, Catherine's Pita. I guess this is where I fulfill some kind of creative need.

I live in Manhattan now, on the Lower East Side, with two roommates and my cat. It is soooooo much better than living alone in Queens, I can't even tell you. I still hang out with my favorite Review peeps: Randi, Cormi, Mugsy, Cindy, Scott, Betsy (though as she is always careful to point out, we were NOT friends in Review times), Vanessa Rothschild (about to get commitment-ceremonied!), Leanne Milway and John Chabalko (in LOVE, don't you know!), Kelly and Pete Bothum (now cleaning poopy diapers), Bill Werde and Heather Moore. I would also like to give special shoutouts to Section 2, Andrew "Flesheater" Grypa, the orange carpet, the fish, and my favorite column, Conversation Pieces (are you still out there?). I want to hear about Christa and her mushroom therapy, whatever wacky (or strangely normal) thing Greg Shulas is doing, and how Oakland is surviving Alabama. If anyone is in New York, give me a shout and we'll do drinks.

Matzo faction forever,
Catherine

So with all the Review staffs that have graduated in all the years in existence at UD, only 33 of us have a life following our time there? I find this hard to believe. While nothing can live up to the crazy life that was the Review, we all want to know what you're doing now. Write in at kabsy77@yahoo.com. Because I guarantee you, people DO want to know what you're up to!

From Derek Harper AS96, (DNHarper@yahoo.com):Howdy. After doing everything but sell ads at the Review, I graduated backin '96. I lingered in Newark for six months, then fled to New York City. For the next two and a half years I then managed to not shoot myself in the face whilst helping copy edit and lay out "The Journal of International Taxation"and other hottt tax-related page-turners.
I wandered to Philadelphia and wound up working for a weekly which folded right as I slid into the Press of Atlantic City's welcoming embrace. I'm here, now, a year and a half later, covering the Blueberry Capitol of the World, among other places. As I have no other marketable abilities, I'll probably be here for some time. If you're in Souf' Jersey, gimmie a shout.
Word.

From Scott Goss:so there's nothing here that says "graduate," right? since leaving the review i spent a futile year working in a parking lot while trying to save my gpa. having failed that, i worked at the cecil whig for two years before landing a gig covering Philadelphia City Hall for an African-American newspaper. I am currently working (if you can call it that) at a handful of freelance jobs until i find another FT or cant pay my rent, whichever come first.
but enough about me.
keith weiner and family circle?
my italian partner marrying cops in reno?
leo shane forced to watch ohio sports?
jj booby not mentioning his beautiful baby girl?
a chance to collectively poke fun at your old mates without a flood of those obnoxious forwards?
 
good looking out karen!
g
 

From Cindy Augustine (AS98):
My Review Background: Staff Reporter (Mark Jolly assigned me my first piece!), Copy Editor (never really liked this position because a certain former entertainment editor would get pissed when I corrected their Hit List); Asst Features Editor (I slammed out many book nooks during this time); and finally Entertainment Editor (which despite the Saturday night deadline, was my favorite semester at the 'screw, thanks to my deadline peeps (Christa, Mugsy, Catherine, Scott) and my partner, Andrew Grypa, aka Grandmaster Gryp. (Where are you these days, Part? Drop me a line).

Please note that I was on staff when Section 2 was called Section 2 and not "Mosaic" and when the Deer Park was in no way renovated.

Enough nostalgia. 5 years later I'm in NYC doing various things for the Learning Annex, a continuing education center. So if anyone is interested in taking sushi-making or has a burning desire to learn how to Buy & Flip properties in Harlem, I'm your girl. Seriously, my job is cool, if temporary. I even get to drink beers on deadline just like in the Review office...uh, I mean the Deerpark.

So anyone out there wants to get a Cappuccino Blast or a beer, get in touch cindy1230@hotmail.com

Ayyyyyiiiiissss!

Cindy A

Alain Nana-Sinkam (AS93): Was Asst. Sports Editor 1990, Sports Editor 1991. - No longer in the field (working in finance) but still cherish my memories of chicken nuggets from The Scrounge and seeing how many times in a row Josh Putterman could play "Been Caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction until someone actually threatened to jump out the window. I could still probably hack out a half-decent layout on Quark Express and maintain a blistering argument with Mike Boush about race relations at the same time if I had to. I'm always scanning bylines in the papers and magazines for my former co-workers. It was a great a time that I love to think about.

From Randi Hecht (felafel329@yahoo.com):
Now that some other recognizable figures have posted on this site, I figured it was time I did the same. Let's see, after graduating in '98 with three years of Review experience to my name, I moved to Hoboken, NJ, and worked as a copy editor at a women's service magazine, hating practically every minute of it. Editing cheesy copy for middleage housewives and learning the best way to get the smell of onion off your hands (lemon juice) wasn't my idea of total excitement. After that I had a short career (six months) at a weekly teen newsmagazine when pop tarts and boy bands were all the rage. I was having a great time until we got the news we were folding. So I deposited my small severance package and headed to FHM Magazine, where I've been a copy editor for the past three years. True, we mention beer and there are plenty of babes, but it's a great magazine to work for. In what other office could I take a work-sanctioned outing to a baseball game to compete with my co-workers against a world eating champ (who knew the secret to scarfing down cotton candy was dunking it in hot coffee)?

I'm still living in Hoboken, still hanging out with Review folk, still missing the days of cheap Yuengling at the Deer Park and still cringing when I hear the first notes of "Chocolate and Cheese." If anyone wants to say hi, send me an email...

From Leanne Milway, AS97:
After graduation I somehow landed an online editor position at USATODAY.com (not exactly sure how this happened, since most of that summer I was in the Deer Park). I updated the home page when Clinton had Monica, when school shootings were all the rage. Exciting, right? But who reads USA Today? And D.C. was just so … political, so I moved to San Francisco to work at one of those dotcoms. It was damn fun, even if I got laid off and never made my millions. Three years later, I’m still in foggy SF (still hanging with Reviewites) and now I write for anyone. I’ve had “consulting” jobs at MSN TV and Yahoo! Personals (online dating! Need advice? Hell, I WRITE the dating advice), but now I’m back in the job search. Fingers crossed for a full-time writerly job in the city.

I’m also “senior writer” for Bookmarks Magazine (www.bookmarksmagazine.com), and we’re always in the market for more writers. So if you like books, and would like to write about books (for very little money), drop me a line. I’ll hook you up! (leanne@bookmarksmagazine.com)

Also, I want you to know there are MANY ex-Reviewers with web sites, several of which are linked from the always exciting (if infrequently updated) CrazyKnee.com.


woo!
Leanne

A Request From Maria Dal Pan:
Help! So I mentioned earlier that I tied the knot... well, that's only half the story. As far as Uncle Sam is concerned I am officially a Mrs. But in the eyes of the Greek Orthodox Church, well, that's another
story. ;)

The big shin-dig is planned for a month from now, and I am desperately seeking a PHOTOGRAPHER! I know, I know, most people take care of these things way in advance. But, we're on a budget, and I'm not looking for albums or anything... just someone willing to shoot for a few hours. And, yes, I'LL PAY YOU! So if there's anyone out there in Review alum land who is willing, or knows anyone in the NY/NJ/PA area who might be willing, please, please, PLEASE send me an e-mail, and we can work out the particulars. (mariasdp@aol.com) I would SO appreciate it!
Thanking you all in advance,
Maria Dal Pan (soon-to-be Maria Dias)

From Andrea Jean Benvenuto:Guess I'm one of the most recent Review alumni; I was EIC last year (2002-2003) and also managing Mosaic, managing news and student affairs. Nothing exciting has happened since I graduated a few weeks ago,unfortunately. I'm stuck looking for a job -- I've been applying to magazines, newspapers, publishing companies, literary agencies -- but I'll do anything, really...

Anyway, it's nice to take a look at the site and see how everyone is doing. Jaime and Jeff are engaged! Whoa. Congratulations. I'll be in Newark for the next couple of months, so if anyone wants to meet up at the newly classy Deer Park (or offer me an editing position), let me know. They tell me my udel e-mail account will work until August. It's andreab@udel.edu.

Want to post something? E-mail kabsy77@yahoo.com

From Lauren Sosnowski:
Graduated from UD: January 2002
 
Hey guys, it's Lauren, a former copy editor for The Review. I worked for the paper during 2001 and 2002, three of those semesters I was a copy editor. Why'd  I keep the same position for so long? I had too much other crap to do that I didn't have time for any other desk position and I enjoyed being up in the office when it was quiet. Most of you won't remember me because I didn't interact with the staff much, just my fellow copy editors (yay Kitt and Susanne!!) Once a copy editor, always a copy editor; I find myself correcting other's grammar and spelling and word misuse on a regular basis. Yeah, people get pissed, but frankly I don't care.
 
After graduation, I moved from New Jersey to Myrtle Beach, SC, to live with my fiance who recently got a job as PR Director for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves (he;s formerly from Jersey, too). I help out with press releases here and there, mostly making sure he spells things properly and uses correct grammar. I do freelance work when I feel like it, mostly for the various Web sites and occasionally for The Sun News, a ghastly paper down here. I'm not really looking for anything full-time right now because I'm working toward a a master's in teaching down here at Coastal Carolina University. Journalism was fun, I learned a lot, but I can't see myself writing for a paper on a regular basis. And I get too frustrated when people have mistakes in their articles that I can't see myself being an editor anywhere; I'd probably kill a reporter somewhere along the line. I want to get back into PR and hopefully one day work in sports. I'm also working on a novel about how you can't take life for granted. Some day I hope to have it published (fingers crossed). So far, it's coming along nicely. Other than that, I'm getting married back in Jersey in February (been engaged a little over six months), have a dog, survived a tornado and live a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. Life ain't that bad. ;-) My e-mail is lauren_sosnowski@yahoo.com. I'm always up for a good chat.

From Dan B. Levine AS 93 (sdlevine@rcn.com) reporter, sports editor, managing sports editor (1990-92):
I felt somewhat old reading the posts on the site recently, but that could also be because i just turned 32 the other day....

after bouncing around in financial journalism for a few years [upon graduation i worked for a business magazine in new brunswick, new jersey and then edited and wrote two financial newsletters on various aspects of the bond market for the american banker] i finally found my niche editing and producing high yield research reports....i spent almost three years at merrill lynch [saw the russian debt crisis threaten to take our market down] and have been with deutsche bank since october 1999....

while i'm not writing for a newspaper or a magazine [call me a sellout if you wish], i am using my writing and layout skills [thank you josh putterman!!]...there are times that i miss covering and writing about sports but i still am satisfied and stimulated because i am editing and rewriting research reports on a daily basis.....so while i may not have taken the most direct route to my current position i must say that had it not been for my experience at the review i certainly wouldn't behere today....

Our fabulous alma mater hasn't posted the Homecoming dates yet on its alumni web site, but the 2003 Blue Hen football schedule says that Homecoming is Oct. 18. Not sure what the deal is with a Review tent this year, but if anyone hears anything, let me know.

From Rob Niedzwiecki:
Hey all, I'm a former sports/managing sports editor, class of 2001. Upon graduating from our esteemed university I was a news copy desk intern for three months at The News Journal, and then I moved down to Martinsburg, West Virginia, to be a sports writer/layout guy at The Journal (circulation 20,000) in September 2001. I still live here, and yes, I still have all my teeth.

Martinsburg isn't your stereotypical West Virginia town - it's just a few miles from Maryland and Virginia, and every fast-food chain in the country has at least one restaurant here. Anybody that's taken a trip to JMU has probably passed it on I-81.

It's not a bad place to work or live, and we tend to have openings frequently. I myself am looking to move on, ideally in my home state of Jersey, though pickiness will get you nowhere in journalism. If anybody hears anything or just wants to say hey, i'm at niedz20@aol.com.

I only wish the Golden Boy from Philly could find a better outlet for taking out his frustrations. Bashing the greatest sports franchise in history is never the answer.

From Jaime Bender: Hey everyone -- It's Jaime, former copy desk chief/copy editor/city news editor at the great old Review! I graduated in May 2002 and worked for about a year at the Delaware County Daily Times until moving to Rocky Mount, North Carolina to work at a paper there.

I'm so glad I know about this website because it's the perfect time to tell everyone that Jeff and I are engaged!! He proposed last night and of courseI accepted. Two Review alums unite!

Anyway, down here in NC Jeff's a sports writer and I've got the education beat, and we're both doing great. We've been here almost 3 months and we plan to stay for a year or so until we can find jobs in a more metropolitan area. And somewhere in there we're gonna do that wedding thing too. Hope everyone is doing well. Drop me an email at jaimebender@yahoo.com and Jeff's is gluckj@aol.com. Keep in touch!
Best wishes to all,
Jaime

From Matt Steinmetz (MSteinmetz@comcast-spectacor.com): So upon realizing my writing and editing wasn't good enough for someone to pay me to do it, it occurred to me that 4 years of school had prepared me to pursue little more than my two favorite parts of life: women and sports. Somehow I managed to combine the two and am now working for the Philadelphia Charge--the women's pro soccer team in Villanova. And despite the fact that I couldn't sell a fat kid a candy bar, they pay me to sell tickets,sponsorships, etc. It's not a bad gig... the players are hot, the beer after games is free and the players are hot. And the team's owned by Comcast so I'm hoping a foot in the door leads to something with a more "traditional" organization like the Flyers or Sixers down the road.But for now I'm content to watch girls kick balls. Still, I can't quite let the dream die -- I'm in the primitive stages of writing a book from the viewpoint of a member of Philadelphia's Generation Zero. As in zerochampionships witnessed by any Philly fans born post-1980. The smart money says I'll never finish it...and Philly will never win another championship.Oh...and fuck the Yankees.

From Heather Garlich (heathergarlich@hotmail.com):
Class of 2001. Staff positions: Mosaic editor, Solid Gold Dancer
Reading these blurbs conjured up many memories... Then I took a pill and they went away. Seriously, I miss you guys! After deciding that a rewarding career as a waitress wasn't the life for me, I began working as an analyst at an international firm near the White House. We perform trend, fiscal and global media analysis for companies to illustrate their performance in the media, and then give them quarterly and annual reports based on our data (www.carma.com). Sometimes I come across familiar bylines when I'm researching, such as our old Editor-in-Chief Ryan C. It's interesting being on the other side of the news, especially seeing how our clients are concerned about bylines, sources and different messages presented in articles. That's been my day job for nearly two years. Congratulations to all who are married or engaged! It's been too long. I think a GRB is in order, or at least a field trip on a weekend to a luxurious site such as Baltimore, DC or even Newark. I heard they revamped the Deer Park and made it classy, which makes me sad. I look forward to seeing some of you soon and catching up! --Cheers, Heather

From Ben Penserga (benpenserga@hotmail.com):
I was a Review staff reporter in the fall of 1999 and features editor the following spring before getting my English degree.
 
Since my graduation three years ago, I’ve been covering crime up and down Maryland’s Eastern Shore. I’m currently the police reporter for the Daily Times in Salisbury, Md. (Gannett-owned, of course).


From Mike Bederka, (bederka43@aol.com), 2000:
My days of interviewing celebrities and reviewing concerts have been put on hold temporarily. I currently write for a pair of medical trade magazines in suburban Philadelphia. It's an all right gig, but I may be looking to get back into the features game. Any leads on fun freelancing or full-time jobs, definitely send them my way. Also, if anyone is looking to do some medical trade writing, let me know. The pay and benefits are decent, and they're usually hiring.


From Leslie Barbaro, BA 1992 (ldbarbaro@earthlink.net):
I'm currently (and newly) in Chicago and would love to hear from any former Review staffers who have strayed to the mid-west. I just finished my graduate coursework in photojournalism at Ohio University (although I still have to finish my thesis) and am working in the suburbs at a group of newspapers with a very good photo tradition.

I'm a former Review photo editor and the journalism department at UD was so much more beneficial that the art/photography department ever was.There were no photojournalism courses there 10 years ago and if that's changed I'd love to know. Maybe when I work my way back east I can do something about it. Kudos to the past and current photographers who are giving it a go.


From Noel Dietrich (daisytwo@bluehen.udel.edu):   
Hi everyone! For those of you who don't know me, I'm a former Review managing Mosaic editor, assistant features editor, and copy editor. I graduated in 2002, and since then, have enjoyed a plethora of thrilling retail jobs (and interned at Out & About magazine in Wilmington). I'll be returning to the University of Delaware in the fall to work on my master's degree in communication.  I'm not completely positive about my plans after that, but my concentration will be in mass media and public relations. In short, I've decided my two and a half years at The Review were a whole lot more valuable than my four years of music education classes, and a whole lot closer to something that will ultimately make me happy as a career.

Anyway, I'd love to hear from any of you, whether or not I actually know you, so drop me a line if you want.
You can also check out my ramblings at my personal site, http://melodytwo.blogspot.com.

From Josh Putterman, 1991 (unclejosh@yahoo.com):
After 10 years at daily newspapers, now biding my time in the wacky, weekly world of Jewish journalism as a copy editor for the New Jersey Jewish News. (Pluses: Normal business hours; American and major Jewish paid holidays. Minus: Having to drive anywhere in New Jersey during rush hour.)

I'm a former Review sports/managing editor who is still an avid sports fan, but hasn't worked with a sports section since the mid-'90s at the Delaware State News. I haven't seen a UD football game in person in a few years -- with apologies to Elbert Chance, I was stopped by "Others" -- but would like to rectify that in 2003. Review Alumni tailgate, anyone?


From Jeff Pearlman, BA 94:
Since graduating from UD I spent six years as a member of the Greg Orlando Traveling All-Star Basketball Team, based out of Rye, NY. I now have a weekly column in Heaven's Gate Digest.

Blogger, the thing that runs this site, has been changing things up a bit, so don't be surprised if this blog is either inaccessable/or unupdated for a little bit in the near future. My personal blog was updated, and it seems my posts from the last two years are missing. Hopefully, it's just a glitch and it will all be worked out. Just wanted to warn you all incase something looks different here in the coming days.

And there are still a bunch of you who haven't written in, but you're reading the page, so I know you're interested. Join the fun, people!

From Shaun Gallagher:

Graduation date: Spring 2002

Review positions held: Staff reporter, F98-S99; student affairs editor, F99; features editor, S00; managing Mosaic editor, F00-S01; news layout editor and freelance Catholic, F01.

What's Happened Since: I was hired as managing editor of Delaware Today magazine during the fall semester of my senior year at UD and spent my final semester in college as the only managing editor of a city/regional magazinein the country who lived out of a 7-by-11-foot dorm room and still ate dining hall food on a regular basis. Delaware Today has been a sweet gig, and it's very rewarding, but my greatest accomplishment to date has nothingto do with writing or editing: In November 2002 I was asked to judge the Miss Delaware USA / Miss Teen Delaware USA competition.The fate of 65girls in bikinis was in my hands. How can anything top that?

Goals: My dream job is to become the person who writes the "Embarrassing Moments" section of YM. You may laugh, but think about it: We all know that those letters are all made up. After all, judging from those letters, one out of every three girls in America has had their little brother walk into the room with feminine hygiene products sticking out of his ears. So I figure, who better to come up with mortifying scenarios than me -- the archetypical Annoying Little Brother? And an added benefit: Have you ever seen the editors at YM? They're 90 percent girls, and 90 percent hot. If my elementary math holds up, that means that 81 percent are both girls AND hot. Could you imagine working at a place where the staff is 81 percent hot girls? The only place that tops that is Hair Cuttery.

Contact info: I've got a personal Web site (www.BracketMedia.com) with some recent clips and ways to get in touch with me. If you choose to check out the site, feel free to send a "Send Tom Jones" e-card to your friends and loved ones, or take the "Which Circle of Hell Will I End Up In?" Quiz -- as if any former Review editor would have to ask.

From Rob Wherry (rwherry@forbes.com): "I'm a former managing editor and part of the Review class of '95. I've been at Forbes magazine for four years, covering a range of topics. This place has been a good home, especially since Wall Street recently has been an endless arena for scams. Prior to that I covered politics at George and did some time at Delaware Today and the Cecil Whig. I'm not sure how many of you live in NYCity or are interested in some day getting here. But if you are feel free to email me and I will try to give you some advice about apartments etc.

I keep in touch with several Review mafia members here. And I find it helps. I got to NYC because of a Review connection. It would be nice to have a way to find out about jobs or feed them to UD grads. I would be willing to provide that info here when I get it. After seven years in NYC I do have some connections at other papers and magazines--although the job market is poor right now.

Two things:

1.) I'm looking for contact info for the team that published Venture last year or in 2001 (I can't remember the semester).

2.) We have talked about this before on other BBoards. But we really should try to coordinate some kind of mentor/fund raising project for the people who are still in school. A way for the them to find out about internships, fund special projects, improve their writing/editing and, ultimately get a paying job."

Sue Stock (Newszee@aol.com) is a business reporter at the Lansing State Journal inLansing, Mich.

From Leo Shane III (leoshane@hotmail.com), AS 1998: I am a bureau reporter for a chain of central Ohio Gannett newspapers (NNCO, circ 150,000) covering statehouse news in Columbus. Yes, Ohio is as exciting as you picture it. But the politicians are cranky and the copy has been good, so no complaints yet. I've been here for 18 months after stints in Chicago and the Philly suburbs. It's good to hear a few journalism grads still work in the biz.

From John Yocca (johnyoc22@hotmail.com): Hey fellow Review alum. After leaving good ol' Delaware in Oct 2001 and quitting the Gloucester County Times in South Jersey, I landed a municipal reporting job with the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick. For those of you who have no idea where that is, it's right near New Brunswick, home to Rutgers. I cover four towns, while working on special feature projects too. It's not a bad gig, I hate Gannett, but the benefits are great and I can move around the country to other Gannett papers so that's a good feature. Ideally I would like to break into magazine or feature writing full time. I still get a rush from news, but need something for those creative juices. I write for the feature's section but I don't have enough time. So if anyone in the feature world is hiring, let me know! Hope to see more people on here and feel free to write me anytime! GO YANKS!!!!!!