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.
The design editor position is marketed as a position with a minimal commitment compared to other editors, consisting almost entirely of just a few hours on Sundays. But I always end up sticking around longer than needed because even when my work is done, the Hatchet community has a pull that’s difficult to resist.
I’ve been on the Hatchet since my freshman year, and though I was intimidated at the idea of entering this tight-knit community as one of the only freshmen on staff, I quickly grew to love it. As a Contributing Design Editor, I only worked on pages for a couple hours every week but spent an unnecessary amount of time in the townhouse basement because I loved the camaraderie and silly conversations. Instead of going home after finishing my designing, I’d attempt to study as an excuse to be around the constant jokes and laughter coming from every room. My favorite basement (and newsroom) programming that year: Pitch Perfect, the Superbowl and the Grammys.
Stepping into the Hatchet freshman year felt like entering the real world for the first time. At the Hatchet, I realized that everyone treats their position like a full time job. I have never been interested in pursuing a career in journalism, but being around so many talented and hardworking people was inspiring.
My sophomore year, my perspective on the Hatchet was less idealistic. I jumped headfirst into the Design Editor position and was instantly overwhelmed, going from casually working on pages to pulling all nighters and working on guides back to back during midterms season. While some of the late nights had me seriously considering quitting, what kept me going was the bond I eventually built with the other design editors. Again, we wound up hanging around the townhouse longer than necessary, watching nostalgic shows all evening as we debated colors and fonts. I finally started to find my own place in the basement as we created new traditions and memories. My favorite basement programming that year: Tangled, High School Musical 2 and Princess Protection Program.
That year, I learned how to draw boundaries and not overcommit. The design editors started taking solo shifts at the townhouse as a more efficient use of our time. I took on other extracurriculars so that the Hatchet didn’t feel so all-consuming, and I felt myself pulling back a little from design so that I didn’t burn out. But still, looking back on this time, I don’t remember the deadlines or exams I was putting off — just the joy of being in a room full of people with such different but complementary skills, tossing ideas out until the right one clicked into place.
Now that I’m in my third and final year on the Hatchet and at GW, I find myself reverting back to old habits of staying past my scheduled shift, though with a healthier balance. I rarely put major schoolwork on my Sunday to-do lists now because no matter how many exams I have to prepare for, I always end up sticking around in that tiny basement, lingering longer than I need to. Though I like to pretend I get peer pressured into staying or that it would be criminal to miss the ending of a good movie, in reality, I just can’t bring myself to leave my friends. My favorite basement programming this year: Interstellar, The Social Network and the Actor Awards.
While I was initially hesitant about putting my all into something somewhat unrelated to my career aspirations, the Hatchet has become one of the most impactful parts of my college experience. This institution, though flawed and constantly adapting, is made up of people who want it to be better and work to do so every day. Whether we’re putting on Disney Channel originals or going through Christopher Nolan’s filmography, I’m always grateful I chose to spend my Sundays here three years ago because the Hatchet attracts people worth sticking around for.
I want to thank these people for making it hard to leave at the end of the night and even harder to leave at the end of my time on the Hatchet:
Vol. 122 staff:
Abby: My day one! I’m so grateful we started on the Hatchet together and had each other to rely on — I know I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) have done it without you. You’re such a talented designer and have a great eye for details, but you’ve also become such a dear friend to me. Watching and singing along to movies, like High School Musical 2 and Tangled, with you are some of my favorite Hatchet memories, and I can’t imagine what my time on the Hatchet would have been like if you weren’t by my side — probably terrible. We’ve been through so many ups and downs together, including many late night front-page switch-ups and tricky guides, but I love how you’re never afraid to stand up for design and speak your mind. Even though we’re a year apart, I’m glad we get to end this journey together.
Livi: It’s been so amazing seeing you grow into the design editor you are today, and I’m so glad we hired you (easiest decision ever). You consistently make me laugh with your stories or random gossip that I never hear about. I have so much confidence that you will kill it once Abby and I graduate, and I will miss you dearly. Don’t let anyone underestimate you, and I can’t wait to see the direction design goes under your leadership. Please keep guessing prodo end times, writing silly rhymes and putting on movies, and I hope you create new design traditions too.
Mollie: The minute you joined staff as a contrib it was clear your initiative and how dedicated you were to design — you were essentially a design editor well before you gained that title. I think we made a great team because we both had different strengths, so we balanced each other out well. You’re the only design editor since Izzy who was willing to stay the night every weekend, and I hope you know how grateful I am for it. I’ve missed watching Glee together and hearing you burst into song every two seconds, and I hope you’re having an amazing time abroad. I’m looking forward to finally seeing you again and hearing about your time as MD this fall!
Sachini: I remember being sad that last year’s basement gang was mostly graduating, but the first prodo where you were in the basement, we clicked immediately and watched Yellowjackets, and I realized it was going to be a great year. Chatting with you about movies and putting on basement programming together every Sunday is my favorite part of prodo; I look forward to it every week. I have loved bonding over Derry Girls, laughing at your gross Taco Bell coffee and every other silly moment we’ve had in the townhouse. I’m so glad we’ve become friends this year, and we must stay in touch!
Diana: Aries twin! I knew you were going to kill it as Culture Editor from the start, and I’m glad I was right. You put so much of yourself into culture guides, and I’m so proud of what we’ve created together this year. You’ve brought a lot of whimsy to the townhouse, and you’re a great friend. Thanks for always filling me in on the drama that I’ve missed out on. You have been so dedicated to making the Hatchet feel like a community instead of just a set of coworkers, which is why I know you’ll do an amazing job as MD next spring. Please keep sticking up for culture and don’t let anyone make you feel like your opinion doesn’t matter.
Carly: Though I wish we could have become friends sooner (I only recently realized we were freshmen on staff at the same time), I have loved working on guides with you and hanging out both at the townhouse and outside of the Hatchet. Thanks for bringing back fun ed all emails and making Hatchet Halloween such a blast. I hope you’re having a great time abroad, and I know this paper will be better off when you return!
Ben: Thanks for bringing so much joy and laughter to the basement as MD and nerding out about movies and awards season with me! It was so fun reciting The Social Network word for word and predicting (pretty accurately in your case) the Actor Award wins. I’m glad that you’ve been joining us down there this semester, especially because of our very similar movie tastes. I will definitely be keeping an eye on your Letterboxd reviews, and I hope your magazine idea finally comes to life one day.
Arwen: Your passion for Hatchet photo has been obvious since you first joined, and I appreciate the effort you put into making sure every picture on the page is just right. Your collage for the front of Basketball Guide ‘24 is one of the greats, and we’ve created some awesome photo layouts together this year. Thanks for bringing the lovely Peaches to the townhouse too.
An: I genuinely thought you were a senior when I met you when you were a sophomore because you were so self-assured in a room full of seniors. You are so talented, and I’m always impressed with the visuals and graphics you are able to create. Though design does try to make a few graphics for our guides, we’re often out of our depth, and your work brings so much to the guides that we can’t do ourselves. Side note: you’re one of the best-dressed people on the Hatchet.
Fiona Riley: In my EIC meeting with you, I loved that you genuinely listened to my concerns, and I felt so heard. Not only are you dedicated to the paper, but you’re also funny and kind — it really meant a lot when you picked me for Golden Hatchet last year, and though I wasn’t there for the PNG incident, I still laugh so hard whenever people remind me of it. It was nice to get to know you more in Philosophy and Film.
Hannah: I was honestly pretty intimidated by you for so long, but once I got to know you I realized you were so friendly. Thanks for guiding us through ups and downs and making us all laugh even at 4 a.m. During my first late night prodo with you guys, you and Fiona did the “I’m so hungry I could eat” prank on Tyler, and I remember us all being delirious but hysterical.
Fiona Bork: Thank you for the support you’ve provided to design during our hiring process and for being someone I could always come to with questions.
Jenna and Tyler: You guys are such a great team, and I always enjoy it when you join us in the basement for award shows and movies. Jenna, I’m confident that you’ll thrive in the EIC position, and I love that building community is such a big part of your platform. I’m excited to hear about how the Hatchet evolves under your leadership.
Adelaide, Kya, Louisa, Ethan, Marlene: I might be biased, but I think the basement is the most special place in the townhouse, and it’s specifically because of the people that end up there every year. I’m so lucky I get to spend every Sunday evening with you guys, and I know prodo would not be the same without you all and our weekly movie debates. Ethan, I’m glad we discovered our very similar tastes in films!
Mathylda, Lexi, Cooper, Kyra: Designing the paper is always more fun when we have amazing photos to work with, and you guys have brought in so many stunning visuals this year. Mathylda, I know you’re going to be a great Senior Photo Editor next year.
Arjun, Ryan Saenz, Dylan, Gianna: I always enjoy chatting with you all and getting to know you more at Hatchet functions or the AMC outing. I’ve heard so many good things about how you guys stepped up this year when things were tumultuous within the news team.
Andi: You are the sweetest person ever, and I am so impressed with how you were able to lead your section by yourself last year. I always love when you come to cut your page, and I can tell how dedicated you are to your work.
Max Gaffin: I actually applied to the social media section as a freshman and was disappointed that there were no openings! Thanks for translating our guide visuals to Instagram seamlessly and helping design with our hiring outreach.
Sandra: Though I’ve never been someone who is particularly interested in sports or knows much about it, I loved working on the basketball guide with you last volume, and I know you brought so much passion to the sports section.
Vol. 121 staff:
Grace Chinowsky: I always joke that you were essentially a fourth design editor when you were EIC, but I still stand by it — you always pushed our guides to be better and had a distinct vision for what you wanted to see, even if sometimes it was just a phrase like “vintage crunch.” Your guidance helped us make so many great changes to Hatchet design last year, including our updated headers and more visually interesting fronts. I am grateful for how you always made sure the Hatchet’s design was a priority.
Sage: Photo and design are such an obvious team, and our collaborations always felt so easy, but I also enjoyed chatting with you at Hatchet functions. You’re such a talented photographer, and I loved hearing about your random lore or side hobbies. I admire your ability to stay so cool under pressure, though the video-photo “fight” at Hatchet prom last year was iconic, to say the least. It was nice to have another Bay Area person on staff too — west coast, best coast!
Ianne and Faith: We’ve been through some rough late night prodos together, but you guys always knew how to bring the mood up even in demoralizing moments. Thanks for always taking the time to appreciate design and help us elevate our work.
Nick Perkins: You brought such a creative perspective to our guide visuals meetings, and I’d never be able to predict the fun graphic ideas you’d come up with. The number of times your name is brought up in the townhouse — only good things, of course — is a testament to your legacy at the Hatchet. Maybe next volume the design editors will finally fulfill your dream of putting a story in a graphic!
Shea: I’m so glad we got closer last summer and that we (almost) share a birthday. I have loved going to movie nights with you and bonding over R&B music. It’s been so fun getting to know you more, and I hope we keep in touch.
Nicholas Aguirre Zafiro, Lindsay, Caitlin, Nikki: You guys made the basement such a lively place last volume, and I definitely miss your presence there. Caitlin, I always enjoyed working on guides with you. Nick, though our multimedia meetings were short lived, I appreciate your dedication to multimedia collaboration and solidarity, and I’ll never get over how crazy it was that we happened to be in the same coffee shop at the same time in San Jose a couple of years ago.
Vol. 120 staff:
Izzy: I’m so grateful for everything you taught me. You were such a kind mentor, and the Hatchet isn’t the same without your leadership. Whenever I run into an obstacle, I always remember how smoothly you tackled every problem, and I do my best to emulate your process. Even though taking on the Design Editor position was daunting, you never made me feel like I was obligated to do it, and I’m so glad you trusted Abby and me with this role. We always think back on that time and wonder how you were able to put so much of your time into the Hatchet, and I am always impressed by it. Please come visit again soon!
Maura: I know our time on the Hatchet had little overlap, but you were always such a kind and patient presence in the townhouse during our design trainings. You’re a talented designer, and I’m grateful that you picked Abby and me to join as contribs after you graduated.
Jaden: I always looked forward to hanging out with you, Izzy and Auden in the basement every Sunday. I have so many fond memories of us going on CVS runs together and hearing your commentary on the various movies we’d watch in the basement or newsroom. You guys were the original basement gang for me and are a major reason why that place feels so special. I’m grateful for your advice and guidance in my first year on the Hatchet.
Nick Pasion: You have a way of making everyone feel appreciated for even the smallest things, and you were one of the first people to welcome me into the Hatchet and make sure I felt included when I didn’t know anyone. I remember feeling so relieved when I showed up to Hatchet Holiday alone and you introduced me to several people, and it meant a lot. Being around your humor and positivity during prodo was one of the reasons why I grew to love the Hatchet.
Zach Blackburn: I have such positive memories of my freshman year time on staff, and a big part of that was thanks to your leadership and sense of humor. I honestly loved the period of time when the basement flooded in Spring ‘24, and we had to design the paper in the newsroom because I got to feel the camaraderie there that you helped create. You also have great taste in movies – I’m glad you agree that Mission Impossible: Fallout is a masterpiece.
Auden: You were always so kind to me when I joined staff as a freshman. I’m terribly sorry Abby and I didn’t carry on your and Izzy’s legacy of getting crosswords in the paper, but I always enjoyed testing them out when you guys were making them!
Nicholas Anastacio: Every time I see the Hatchet banner in the townhouse I remember going to that banner painting competition and realizing it was just the two of us — the banner may be rough, but it has heart, and it was nice to get to know you more that day.
Family:
Mom and Dad: Thanks for supporting me and for not pulling me out of GW every time you heard the insanely late time of night I got out of the Hatchet townhouse on Sundays.
Isha: Thanks for forcing me to go to the Hatchet open house my freshman year, encouraging me to advocate for myself and telling me Hatchet lore about people before I even met them.
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