Each year, graduating editors are given 30 final column inches — “30” was historically used to signify the end of a story — to reflect on their time at The Hatchet, published in the final issues of the year.
“Do you even like being on the Hatchet?” my roommate at the time, Katie, asked me one Sunday. To be fair, all I had done that day was grumble about how I was overnighting — staying as long as needed at the townhouse with fellow editors to make last-minute changes to the paper ahead of our 9 a.m. print deadline — and how tired I was going to be the next morning. Overnighting is now an infamous term among my friends, a verb used to describe the hours I’d spend in the townhouse on a Sunday, almost always said with exasperation in response to questions about my plans on Sunday or Monday. On days before I overnighted, I’d try to get as much done as possible, knowing full well that once I settled into the townhouse around 8 p.m., I wouldn’t be getting anything done or going home until at least 2 a.m. — and that was on a good day. The Mondays afterward were usually spent trying to push through the day on a few hours of sleep until it was a reasonable time to go to bed but often succumbing to an early afternoon nap.
I guess Katie’s questions shouldn’t have come as such a surprise to me if all I really did was complain, but it still did. Of course I liked being on The Hatchet and especially as design editor. My only real commitment was on Sundays (and the occasional Saturday for guide editions and weeknight visuals meeting), so in terms of hours spent, I was below many other editors. Through Hatchet, I met some awesome, dedicated, funny people with whom I shared collective insanity as it got later into the night. Late-night CVS runs, movie marathons, Grammys watch parties and strangely deep conversations became a hallmark of my Sunday overnight routine.
I joined The Hatchet sophomore year to become more involved on campus and branch out as part of my new “why not?” mentality. As a senior, I’ve been trying to reconnect with the person I was three years ago who decided to join just for the fun of it. This year has been such a wild mix of emotions — bittersweet, crazy, exciting, filled with memories I’ll cherish forever — and some of the best ones were made with The Hatchet. Not to brag, but I can proudly announce that I am the winner of The Hatchet’s 2026 March Madness bracket pool.
As much as I might have been annoyed by a complete change in the workflow at 3 a.m., for example, the truth was that I was also strangely honored. For my first few months on Hatchet staff, I was a contributing design editor and didn’t overnight. I spent at most three hours in the townhouse every Sunday and usually left well before midnight, leaving the last-minute changes to our lead editor, Izzy. It wasn’t until my first overnight that I really understood the importance of design to the paper. It was the first time I directly saw my impact on our organization, the way others who I looked up to relied on me to make the changes necessary to accurately reflect the news being presented. What most impresses me about every Hatchet editor, photographer and writer I’ve met is their dedication to quality. I can now say that with every late night, I committed myself to The Hatchet. And every time I complained about those late nights, I can honestly say now that I meant it with love.
To all those who have made me love the Hatchet…
Vol. 122 staff
Anusha: This was the last thank you I wrote, actually, not the first like I think you’d expect. In all honesty, I was having trouble coming up with the words to adequately convey my deep gratitude and appreciation for you, for so many things. I’m not exaggerating when I say that we would’ve fallen apart this year (and every year) without you for everything you do. You are thoughtful and creative, determined to do the best thing for the paper but never challenging anyone in a way that makes them feel bad. You care about design and the paper, yes, but you care about the people and community here more. I could never have had the Hatchet experience I did without you, and I’m so thankful we both decided to be design editors together. I love that we both said we’d only do it if the other would too, and I think that’s a testament to how well we work together. You’re always down for a CVS run or movie, and I hope you know that even when we no longer have Hatchet to share, you’ll always have a friend in me.
Livi: Writing this post-last week’s prodo is so much fun because we genuinely had the best night until Anusha and I left (sorry). Also, sorry for denying you pizza Pringles. I will make it up to you! In all seriousness, Livi, you have such a talent for aesthetics and committing to a Pinterest-worthy guide theme. Watching you come into your own on the design team these past two years has been such a joy, and I can’t wait to see what new guides you come up with next year! You have been the best addition to our team, and this past year especially has been the best time. I’m so proud of you for taking on the bulk of overnights this semester (and for staying strong amidst multiple InDesign crashes!) which I can’t imagine freshman-year Livi doing. Genuinely, you are such a light, and I can’t wait to see you do great things, Hatchet design and beyond.
Mollie: I remember the first semester Anusha and I were contribs, and Izzy told us that some girl was interested in design and wanted to come to the townhouse to give it a shot. You were so enthusiastic, so genuine and so eager to get started that it was an absolute no-brainer for you to join as our contrib the following semester. The three of us fit into a team so quickly and naturally and really stepped up with our print guides, gradually pitching more and more involved (and way cooler) designs. You are such a bright presence in our dreary basement, and your steadfast commitment to making the page look as good as possible have reaffirmed our choice a million times over. I hope you continue to make the basement fun, put out some awesome papers and have the absolute time of your life doing so. My best to you abroad!
Fiona B.: You are the first person I think of when I think of The Hatchet. You’ve been that symbol to me since we first met freshman spring, and I know when I’m older and reminiscing on my college days working for the student newspaper, I will also picture you. I remember telling you for the first time that I was going to be on staff and how excited you were for me. Thank you for opening up your world to me with genuine enthusiasm and for always being a smiling face when I see you in the townhouse. I cherish our memories abroad — introducing you and Kathleen to tinto, all-nighters and a horrifying Uber in Barcelona, beaches in the Canary Islands during the editor-in-chief election last year, the Blue Lagoon in Malta and a thousand other moments, big and small, that we shared together. I can’t thank you enough for your constant friendship, and I hope you decide to overnight this Sunday (you have to do it at least once!); it will be my last time and your first!
Photo: You all are so incredible, and I’m always in awe of your photos. I have loved working with you all on photo essays and guides this year. You guys are so legit and professional, it’s insane. Arwen: It has been so much fun working with you and doing our best to laugh through late-night workflow changes. Thank you for taking such awesome portraits for Anusha and me and basically doing a whole shoot (instead of the 5 minutes I thought we’d do). Your commitment to making the page as visually interesting as possible is so admirable, and I love when we come up with a fun new way to put the page together.
Fiona R. and Hannah: Of the three managements I’ve worked with, you guys are definitely the ones I’ve gotten to know the most. I have been so impressed with how you handle running this paper and with the culture you’ve created. I can’t even fathom how difficult your jobs are and how many caps you wear making this paper every week. Thanks for being people I can trust and for trusting in me in return. You’ve never been scary to me as editor in chief and managing editor, and I love that about you guys. As much as I think it’s funny when you debate the correct wording of article headings when I honestly can’t tell the difference, I think it’s admirable how dedicated you are to this paper. I love the collective cheer that goes up when you finally get a headline to fit on the page and how we walk home together at the strangest hours of the night. Thank you for making my last year on The Hatchet the least stressful and most memorable!
An: I remember being intimidated by you the first time we met, thinking you were older and way more put-together than me. You still are the latter, but as I’ve come to get to know you these past three years, you’ve become so much more. You have such a talent for graphics, and though we operate mostly separately, collaborating with you on guides is always so much fun. There really have been some crazy graphics pitches over the years, but either way you pull out some incredible work. We have been so blessed to share the page with your work and you will be sorely missed on the Hatchet next year, that’s for sure.
Diana: I actually think you might be the funniest person alive, if not on staff. Every time I see you, you have some new fun story to tell or pop culture opinion you have to share. You truly embody the fun, creative and entertaining vibes of the culture section. Your work on this past guide was incredible and it has been so much fun working with you this year. I know you will continue to put out quality work, collaborate on fantastic guides and be a friend to everyone in the basement.
Jenna: You’re a great editor but an even better leader. I always feel like I can say what’s on my mind to you, and not only will you listen with compassion, but you’ll understand where I’m coming from. I am so excited to see how your volume goes, and I have such faith in you as a leader.
Tyler: I’ve only really gotten to know you these past couple of weeks, but even then it’s clear how dedicated you are to this paper. I always look forward to when you and Jenna come to the basement to cut, not only because it means we’re getting closer to the end of the night but also because you bring such an energy boost and lightheartedness.
Andi: I’m always so jealous of you when you get to go home after cutting the opinions page. Without fail, it’s the first to be ready, and you’re out of there by like 8 p.m. Thank you for being so on top of it and making our job that much easier! I am so impressed by how kind of a person you are and how much it shows through with every conversation we have. I think I speak for everyone on staff when I say that not a kinder soul exists here.
Max G.: I’m not lying when I say I see you more outside the townhouse than I do in it. I remember meeting you freshman year before I had even joined staff and thinking you were funny and a good friend to one of my good friends. I don’t think I realized we were on staff together — probably because you never go on Sunday — until partway through my first semester as contrib, and even then I think it was Talia that connected the dots, not me. Regardless, Max, thank you for being a constant throughout my time at The Hatchet, for always being kind when I run into you (always not at the townhouse), for memories made in Sevilla, for making our guides look awesome on Instagram and for being you.
Sachini: I don’t really remember what the basement was like before you were there, and I’m not sure we ever introduced ourselves. All I know is one day you asked me if I wanted to participate in your blind matcha taste test, and I was so down. I’ve loved getting to know you this year, and thank you for being a constant warmth in the basement, especially toward the end of prodo when we’re all tired and just want to go home.
Ben: You bring the vibes up every time you enter the basement. Thank you for being a fantastic managing director, always bringing themed snacks and drinks and for making the basement that much more fun.
Adelaide: You are truly dedicated in your work for the paper, and it’s truly so impressive. You are always on top of it and have almost always done copy for various tops of pages before I’ve asked. I value your steadfastness during prodo and have loved getting to know you in a way only the basement crew really can.
Kya: My fellow Vernie, it has been so wonderful getting to know you this semester! You are so easy to talk to, and I know I can strike up a conversation with you about anything at literally any point in the night. I envy when you get to leave the townhouse to go home Sunday nights, and even though I know it’s to catch the Vex, and I wouldn’t trade anything to have to live on the Vern again, I still wish I was leaving too. You have so much time ahead of you to live and grow, and that makes me so happy for you. I wish you all the best in the rest of your college years and beyond!
Rory: I was at the Nationals game on Tuesday and instantly found mustard for my hot dog. No one else will quite understand how incredible that is but you. I wouldn’t have that appreciation if not for our ballpark adventure, and though I’m glad for conveniently located mustard, I’m thankful for that one time it was nowhere to be found, if only because it made us a good memory.
To everyone on the paper: You all put so much work into making this paper every week. Even if we’ve never met in person, chances are, if I know your first name, I know your last name from putting it on the page every week! You make my work each Sunday possible, so thank you for that and all you do.
Former Hatchet staff
Design: To the originals, the best to ever do it … you will forever be who I think about when I picture Hatchet Design. Izzy: Training potential new contribs always makes me think of you. I wonder what you saw in us then, how you knew we would be the right fit. With every issue and new guide, I hope we’re making you and your legacy proud. Maybe you’re checking Issuu for our latest guides, who knows! Maura: You set the standard for Hatchet merch (I promise I’m buying some soon), and I’m still obsessed with the hippos. I wish I had known you for longer than a semester, but I look back on that time — my first semester and your last — with such fondness and am grateful to have met you.
Grace: Who knows if you’re reading this or not, but I wanted to say thank you. You really cared about design and wanted to give us the space to be more creative than we ever have before. You went to war for a color scheme a time or two, gave us the description “vintage crunch” as the inspiration for a guide and never failed to push us when you thought we could do better. I still hear your voice in my head saying, “Imma let you cook” when we’re coming up with guides or redesigning a page.
Outside the townhouse
Skylar: You encouraged me to apply for design sophomore year just because, and I can’t thank you enough for pushing me to go after what I wanted (and thank you for everything sophomore year).
Katie and Suja: To my roommates over the course of 1.5 years as design editor … you have heard my grumbles and complaints about Sunday overnight (and complained right alongside me), been woken up by the creak of the door when I return sometime in the morning and laughed about the absurdity of a 2:30 a.m. finish time being “early.” Through it all, you have been the best and most supportive friends I could’ve asked for.
My parents: Mom: Thanks for encouraging me to join the newspaper in high school (even though to this day, we still argue over whose idea it was to begin with; it was mine). If not for the Blazer, I wouldn’t have learned the makings of a paper and been inspired to join in college. Thanks for keeping the first print copy of the paper with my name on the masthead safe for me. Dad: For every digital print version I sent you, you wrote back with things you liked about the page, articles you read and questions about how we put the whole thing together. Your continued interest in the things I do with such pride has inspired me to pursue new endeavors, knowing you’ll always have my back.
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