I worked as a staff photographer at the Rocky from 1991 to 2000 and, though I moved on to work at The Denver Post and now, back at my alma mater, the University of Colorado at Boulder, I am deeply saddened by the closure of that storied institution. I feel privileged to have worked with such a talented team and cover a wide range of assignments that helped make me a much better photojournalist. I enjoyed seeing how the paper has steadily improved and never sat on its laurels, constantly striving to improve its product in spite escalating costs. It has been great to experience the newspaper war from both sides. And though I’m a CU alum and employee, I will always consider myself a Rocky alumnus, with the shared experience of all the emotional ups and downs and the incredible stories the staff had to cover and endure in the 1990’s. My thoughts go out to everyone currently on staff there now.