The Tradition

Meanwhile. Monica Robinson was in the office's to the campus paper, packing up the last of her things. It was strange to think she'd never be back here, after devoting so much of her time this place in her years at university. But, she was eager to be done with school. She'd received a lot of acclaim from her exposes at the university paper, and was confident she'd get a job soon after receiving her diploma. Then her lifelong dream would be complete: she'd be a real journalist!

She was interrupted from her musing by a knock on the door. She looked up and saw a reedy young man.

"Oh, hi Steve." Monica said, returning to her packing.

Steve was a reporter on the paper under Monica. He was a first year student who made little impression on Monica.

"Hey Monica," Steve replied. "Getting ready for the graduation ceremony?"

"Yup." Monica replied, vaguely annoyed by the small talk on such an important day.

"Are you going to continue the tradition?" Steve asked.

"What tradition?" Monica's ears perked up.

"The tradition of the head of the paper wearing nothing under their graduation gown." Steve replied.

Monica stopped packing. She looked up at Steve.

"Wait... you mean like naked?!" Monica exclaimed.

"Yup! Didn't you know?" Steve explained. "Every head of the paper wears nothing under their gown at the ceremony!

"But... but why?" Monica asked, shocked.

"Who knows?" Steve shrugged. "Fraternal tradition or something. But, it's a requirement for getting your portrait on the wall."

Steve gestured at the wall, where a portraits were framed. The previous editor in chiefs. All men. Monica had long intended to be immortalized as the first woman on that wall, and the first woman of color as well!

"Oh, then I'll definitely be continuing the tradition." Monica said firmly. "You can be sure of that!"

Steve grinned. What Monica didn't know was that Steve worked for the Dean. He'd actually been a mole to Dean Blackburn since Monica started publishing exposes on the staff. In exchange, the Dean had erased some trouble Steve had gotten into from his permanent record. He was doing her bidding right now in fact...