Enjoying a gathering at the home of Al and Joanna Miller.
Writer/columnist Sarah Garrecht Gassen
Cindy Mayron
Sarah Garrecht Gassen, an editorial opinion writer and columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, was the guest speaker at the April meeting of the Democratic Club of Quail Creek.
She fell in love with Tucson after a high school trip and moved from St. Louis, Missouri, to attend the University of Arizona (UA). She first majored in Latin American Studies, but then switched to journalism and earned an undergraduate and a Master’s degree.
Sarah has worked for the paper for 18 years as a reporter and since 2008 has been on the editorial board writing opinion articles that express the view of the newspaper. In addition, she writes her own weekly column (unless she’s on a special assignment). “I enjoy editorial writing since it encompasses not only reporting, but analysis and learning new things,” she said. “You still need to be a good reporter, ready to argue both sides of an issue, even if you don’t agree with the editorial board’s opinion.”
In addition to her writing duties, she also works with The New York Times Student Journalism Institute at UA and manages UA students in the Arizona Daily Star’s apprentice program. She has worked with a nonprofit youth writing program, high school journalism workshops and advises high school journalism instructors on opinion writing.
Gassen shared that she uses a prosthetic leg; her left leg had to be amputated at the age of three due to a limb difference. “My writing reflects how I see the world, the people who aren’t always noticed and what others don’t see. Because I can’t always keep up with people moving too fast, I’m used to being left behind, both figuratively and literally.”
Sarah talked about the editorial process, how topics are chosen and answered a variety of questions from the audience.
She lives in Sahuarita with her husband, a tortoise named Dorothy and rescue guinea pigs.
Following the meeting was the fifth annual BBQ catered by Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue restaurant at the home of Al and Joanna Miller.