Oct 1.

10/1/2025 9:42. Correspondence 46

I'll tell you one thing this project is good for: letting you know when the month changes. Happy October, everyone. I hope it greets you well.

Have you ever had a day so eventful and loaded with responsibility that the morning feels almost unrecognizable? Well, that's been my day. Thinking back to my first two classes is like a blur. Then I tried to attend a meeting (I failed because I had the date wrong in my calendar). I then took a stroll a couple of blocks to the state house to add my body to the organism that is a protest. 

Here is where I want to stop and dive into journalists' strange relationship with identity. I originally went to participate in the protest against 323. I achieved that plan for all of about 30 seconds when I was approached by a friend in my principles of journalism class who was on assignment from UofSC's newspaper to cover the protest. She explained to me that this was her first assignment from The Daily Gamecock, and she was supposed to have a partner with her, but didn't. She asked me if I would be willing to back her up on interviews around the protest and counter-protest. I very happily agreed. That did mean, however, from that moment forward, it was my responsibility to stay unbiased. It pained me slightly because my original intention was to have a voice and show support, and now I could not ethically do that. We interviewed a handful of people. Doctors, students, church leaders, we even got a card from the sheriff's deputy to reach out so they could provide an official statement for us. It was wonderful, from a journalistic sense, and I felt so thrilled to be out there talking to people, feet on the ground. As I walked away, though, it did make me ask myself if I did a disservice to my morals and beliefs, not 100% committing to and supporting a cause I care about. I later had a delightful conversation with my peer mentor, who is an intern for a (democratic) senator at the state house. We had a long discussion about how values and bias intertwine with our passions and aspirations. She shared with me a comforting perspective: Conducting good journalism is just about the most important and democratic thing we as a nation can be doing right now, especially today. I've been thinking about that a lot today. It has stuck with me. I may not be holding a sign, but I sure as hell will be broadcasting the revolution (in a strictly journalistic, ethical, unbias, and factual way, of course). 

And that all happened before 12:30 am. It has been a long day. After that excursion, I ate a hearty lunch and then made my way to my next important meeting. This time, I had my calendar right, thankfully. The next exciting thing I did was laundry and homework. Yippe! I wonder what a 2-page short prose piece all about my experiences and thoughts on college laundry would look like. Don't worry, reader, I will spare you that for today. I then made my way to the gym where I did some light workouts before fencing. 

Dear reader, I have a sad announcement to make. I am not very good at fencing. I know you would think that because of the amount I talk about it, I must be exceptional. That is quite the fallacy, I'm sad to say. I went up against 4 people today- I only won 1. It's all right though, they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and thankfully all these baldes are dull.

Now, we find ourselves in this moment (when you cut out all the walking that is). Me in my tiny dorm room, looking out over the city with my little bird lamp beside me. And I think, what a day it's been. 

Thank you for joining me,

Calvin Landreth 

P.S. I'm very proud of my little photo!