From the Editor’s Desk: A Legacy of Camaraderie 

Earlier this semester, research for an article I wrote about elderly environmental activists in Edgewater took me to The Phoenix’s archives in Loyola’s library. There, I scrolled through hundreds of pages of past Phoenix editions on microfilm, starting in 1969. 

I was awestruck by the continuity between the stories published by writers and editors from the ‘70s and the stories our staff published in my time on the paper. Like us, they touched on campus protests, foreign wars, the latest Rambler to look out for on the basketball team and even the push by students to legalize marijuana.

I felt a strong — but not unfamiliar — sense of camaraderie to these journalists who once worked on my beloved paper. This camaraderie is what makes the paper so special and what makes me so proud to be the next editor-in-chief of The Phoenix. 

Before me is a long line of editors and reporters who have molded our paper into a reliable and accurate source for Loyola students, faculty and community members. Just this year, many of these alumni reached out to the staff and me with kind messages to share their continued support for The Phoenix from all corners of the professional world. 

So, while I prepare to take the paper into my hands, the task before me isn’t as daunting as I would’ve guessed. The network of “Phoens” — as we like to call ourselves — is both numerous and inspiring, and the current staff couldn’t be more hard-working and committed to the paper. 

Nonetheless, with every new beginning, there’s also a bitter end. I’m lucky to take the editor-in-chief torch from Lilli Malone, who has dedicated countless hours to improving the paper, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to learn from her and work with her so closely.  

Journalism energizes me in a way almost nothing else can, and I can’t wait to pour my heart and soul into the stories we tell every week at The Phoenix. Thank you for having me in this role, and cheers to the stories to come. 

This week in The Phoenix, our section editors chose the best stories of the year to republish, celebrating the great work our writers and staff contributed. Read the last edition of The Phoenix for the 2025-2026 year now.