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A senior English major, Justin spent one year as The Montclarion's Opinion Page editor and one year as assistant news editor before taking over the head editorial post. "People thought I was crazy that I wanted to be editor-in-chief two years in a row," he said. "But I love the energy in the newsroom. I think it's just the nature of a student press. I work with many energetic, vibrant people who go to great lengths to get the job done. And there's also the thrill of the effect we have on the community."
Justin would like to pursue a career in writing, but at a magazine rather than a newspaper. "At least that's this week," he said, laughing. During his tenure at The Monclarion, Justin earned a first-place award from the New Jersey Press Association for the special report, "Following the Money Trail." "We got a lot of heat for it, but it was constructive heat," he said. "We went out on a limb doing what we did, but I would do it the same way all over again."
When asked what he will remember most about his college career, Justin said, "There have been so many fulfilling things, even on a small level." He cited his work in trying to establish a Montclarion chapter of the Alumni Association, getting the newspaper on-line (the interactive Web site is expected to debut in January) and working with the Admissions recruiting team to build a database of prospective students.
Garbed in his best suit ready to meet President Susan A. Cole and a team of legislators who visited campus last week, Justin said his leadership post at The Montclarion has taught him many things, but one lesson stands out: "It's important to smile," he grinned. "And I think doing it has made me more personable."
Justin Vellucci has ink in his blood that comes from his great-uncle Lester, a former copy editor at The Star-Ledger. "He would always talk about the integrity of the news medium and objectivity in reporting," recalled Justin, who is in his second year as editor-in-chief of The Montclarion. "So I've always been drawn to newspapers as a medium." Nonetheless, Justin says his newspaper days may be limited to the newsroom in the Student Center Annex. "I just can't see myself as the guy chasing the ambulance," he said.