- Samantha Skolnick, News Staff Writer, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
When I toured colleges my senior year of high school, I collected the campus newspapers from every school to help make my decision. It’s safe to say The Eagle sold me on AU. While on staff as News Writer and Features Editor, I've learned a lot about communications and myself. I am not an SOC student, but working on this incredible team has given me more opportunities, case studies and lessons through hands-on work than any classroom could have. Whether it was staying up past midnight to cover protests my sophomore year, traveling to NYC for a conference, or hanging out during news shifts, The Eagle is one of my most coveted memories from college. It has opened more doors than anything in my entire life (and given me wings — get it?). But in the end, it really is the people who make up this staff who’ve helped me grow and laugh throughout the entire time. Thank you to the people who made my time in the office unforgettable. It has really been an honor sharing the masthead with you! Special shoutout to (no particular order, I swear): Natalie, Penelope, Abigail, Walker, Gabs, Gabby, Quinn, Owen and Prof. Ivers (and many Eagles from the present and past). Love you all and so excited to read your next piece! Xoxo
- Gabby Landis, Life Staff Writer, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
It was such a pleasure to be chosen as a staff member for The Eagle. I joined the team my sophomore year, and the Life section has been a safe space for me to put my passions for writing, music, film and the AU community to good use. The Eagle was a healthy outlet for me and a way to keep myself whole while in college. I am so proud of the community-centered work I published solo and with the Life team, and I am proud to have represented the section at some amazing events, like at the Stephanie Hsu event. I will miss being a part of this family! Thank you to the Life Section, especially Jess, Alfie, Sydney, Alia, Conor and Sasha, as well as my former ME Marina.
- Addie DiPaolo, Managing Editor of Opinion, Bachelor of Science in Data Science for Political Science
I joined the Eagle in the fall semester of my second year at AU, having never written an opinion article before. In the four semesters since, I’ve written many opinion articles and have gone from staff columnist to managing the same section I once knew so little about.
Being a part of The Eagle has truly changed my college career. It has helped me to build relationships, gain amazing opportunities and connect with my peers and professors. I have grown greatly as a writer; being able to create pieces of written work that were not merely for academic purposes has been a great honor. Some of my favorite articles that I’ve written include my article on Wonk Culture, my article on female athletes, my article on AP classes and the subsequent disparities in college credit and my article on political polarization.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned from The Eagle is — to speak in a cliche — that many hands make light the work. My articles would not be even half as good without all of the editors that have helped to work on them throughout the years.
I again want to express my gratitude for being allowed to contribute to The Eagle during my time here as an undergraduate at AU. It has been amazing!
- Penelope Jennings, Sports Staff Writer, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Bachelors of Arts in History
I’ve been on The Eagle’s sports section for eight semesters, but some of the most fun I’ve had was when I ventured outside it. I took photos at an AUSG Presidential Debate, I covered a People’s March and I attended a screening of “Challengers” — thanks again to Sara Winick for letting me call dibs.
The world of The Eagle is so much bigger than your section of the paper, and I wouldn’t have met all of these amazing people without stepping outside of the sports bubble. Thank you to Sydney Hsu, Maya Cederlund and Owen Auston-Babcock for always making me laugh, and for also giving really good advice.
All that said, I do love the sports section — especially the girlboss sports section of Delaney Hoke and Liah Argiropoulos. I knew that three of us being the editors of a sports section was abnormal, but it didn’t feel that way with them. Delaney and Liah, thank you for the laughs, the wisdom and the discussions of basketball that, more often than not, turned into feminist theory.
The section is in amazing hands with Jack Stashower, and so is the whole paper with former sports staff writer Gabrielle McNamee. I know we can count on both of you to keep people happy and smiling.
To any underclassmen on staff: if you are asked if you want a mentor, say yes. Shannon Scovel has been a massive help to me, and the best hype woman I could have asked for. Thank you, Shannon, for giving me confidence and for showing me what’s possible.
The Eagle has taught me more than any class ever could, and brought me some of my best friends. I truly do not know where I would be without it.
Arrivederci, toodle-oo and ciao!
- Aidan Dowell, Satire Editor, Bachelor of Arts in Art History; Spanish minor
I’ve worn just about every hat there is in the satire section. I’ve been our satire cartoonist, a satire columnist and now the satire editor, not to mention all-round funny man. I’ve truly had an amazing experience at The Eagle and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to learn and grow here despite truly having nothing but an ego and a wit when I walked in. Of course, my proudest achievements are my end-of-semester satire editorials, including the recently published Poop Wicked 2, the soon-to-be-published The Whizz and the never to be published Poop Wicked 1. Thank you all for making this an incredible part of my college experience, I fucking love student media. I can say fucking, right? Copy team can we get eyes on this?
- Natalie Hausmann, Campus Life Editor, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Political Science
Joining the Eagle was one of the best decisions of my college career. I could not be more grateful for the friends I’ve made and the mentorship I’ve received. In addition to introducing me to doing good journalism, The Eagle has taught me to be fiercely curious and community-driven in everything I do. I feel so lucky that this community welcomed me with open arms when I joined as a junior and I still cannot believe it's only been two years with these amazing people. Passing on the care and knowledge that was given to me as a reporter now to fellow Eaglets as an editor has been the best privilege.
Thank you to Gabrielle McNamee for your steadfast commitment to local news and pushing The Eagle to fill coverage gaps for the greater Washington community. I can’t wait to see where you take the paper. Thank you to Walker Whalen and Owen Auston-Babcock for trusting me with months-long stories that solidified my passion for investigative reporting. And thank you to Sam Skolnick, Abigail Hatting and Quinn Volpe for being intrepid leaders, always making me giggle and for being exactly who you are! I just can’t wait to see your futures blossom.
And finally, I hope Eagle staffers will continue holding our paper accountable as much as we strive to hold the University accountable. I’m grateful to Maya Cederlund for her mentorship, friendship and paving the way for us to critically re-imagine a better paper. I love this paper and that’s why I know it can and should always work toward diversity, equity and inclusion for our staffers and for our student body alike.
- Quinn Volpe, Staff Columnist; former Managing Editor of Opinion, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; Business and Entertainment minor
When I joined The Eagle as a staff columnist in the spring of my sophomore year, I was invigorated with a new sense of confidence and camaraderie.
My first piece helped me channel my frustrations about what appeared to be an intentional stifling of student mutual aid efforts by American University’s administration. After I witnessed people benefit from meal sharing my freshman year, it felt obvious to me that the following year’s limitations on meal plans, along with price increases, directly ran counter to students sharing their food, paid for with swipes that didn’t roll over into the next semester.
This article was just the beginning of my exploration of the University’s flawed infrastructure. When I became one of two managing editors of the opinion section a year and a half later, I wrote editorial pieces on behalf of The Eagle staff about American University’s lack of transparency and genuine consideration of community input when it came to student protests, student activists and the Eagle Access program. I am forever grateful to The Eagle for giving me a platform to write what I care about, from on-campus to global issues.
Shoutout to the queen of The Eagle and my roommate throughout all of college, Abigail Hatting. Thank you to the beautiful Walker Whalen for serving as editor-in-chief this past year! You are the coolest person ever, and I am so lucky to know you. My love and appreciation also go to the following eaglets: Owen AB, Penelope, the angel Natalie Hausmann, Sam Skolnik and my opinion baddies Alana Parker, Addie, Harry, Aidan and all of the columnists I had the pleasure of working with.
- Connor Sturniolo, Sports Beat Editor, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; Political Science & Literature minors
I remember coming into The Eagle as a scared freshman, having no clue what I wanted to do and joining the Sports section on a whim with some hobby work I’d done in the past. The writers that were there took me under their wing and gave me the confidence to take on something bigger the next year: a beat. Covering the volleyball team for three years has been the honor and privilege of my journalism career to this point, and I can’t thank everyone who gave me that opportunity: Lee Clarke and Delaney Hoke. My closest memories of The Eagle are from the connections I made while I was on staff, and the people I had the honor of learning from while I was here: Isabelle Kravis, Jordan Young and Sara Winick, among many others I don’t have the space to thank. An extra special shout-out goes to Liah Argiropoulos, for being my biggest fan and supporter throughout my entire time on The Eagle, and trusting me enough to take over Section 202. I know I leave the Sports section in the steady hands of Jack Stashower, Cam Harris and Ella Wilson, three of the best people and writers I know, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the upcoming years. To the seniors I’m going out with: our cohort is (in my biased opinion) one of the best this newspaper has ever seen. A huge thanks goes out to Gabby Landis, Daisy Bateman and Kathryn Squyres for weathering the storm with me, and extra special thanks go to my Sports partner-in-crime, Penelope Jennings, who is going to take the world by storm come May, and the best writer I know, Conor Gillingham, whose passion and dedication I envy and try to emulate every single day.
- India Siecke, Satire Staff Writer, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & History
It’s hard to find a way to say goodbye to The Eagle that isn’t my goodbye to AU, because every semester of my time here I have been on The Eagle. I want to thank everyone I’ve ever written an editorial article with, bathroom pun based or otherwise. Y’all are the reason I kept coming back. I also want to thank my friends, acquaintances, exes and hometown classmates whose names made nonconsensual appearances in my articles. May Shelby Burton, Shayna Ogletree and Char Donahue live forever more.
A special shoutout to my first editor, Nora, who taught me the basics of comedic writing and the AU Improv team for kindly showing me I am funnier in print.
- Abigail Hatting, Administration Editor; former Managing Editor of News, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; Political Science and Spanish minors
Joining The Eagle first semester freshman year was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and it’s been a highlight of my college experience. The amount of times my friends have heard, “I can’t, I have an Eagle meeting” is more than I’d like to admit, but it was all worth it. I would not be the journalist, or maybe more importantly, person I am today, without this paper. The Eagle transformed me into a more confident and outgoing version of myself, and I will look back fondly of my memories for the rest of my life.
I always knew that I was going to study journalism but I didn’t really know how reporting and writing a story actually worked until I joined as a news staff writer and was thrown into the lion’s den. My second article was covering the big Title IX protest in November 2022. The story was a group effort and I remember thinking that the upperclassmen working on it with me knew exactly what they were doing and I felt like a deer in headlights. I was so intimidated at the beginning of my Eagle career, but I pushed myself and stepped outside of my comfort zone. Now, hundreds of interviews and dozens of published Eagle articles later, my time here has left a permanent imprint on my heart.
Thank you to: Walker Whalen for being a great friend and editor-in-chief. I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. My roommate for all four years of college, Quinn Volpe, my confidant and fearless opinion editor. Owen Auston-Babcock for pushing me and for knowing the news as fast as humanly possible. Natalie Hausmann and Sam Skolnick for being rays of sunshine. Gabe Castro-Root for teaching me how D.C. local government works as a freshman. Everyone in the news section who let me be their managing editor. My section editors and rising seniors: Payton Anderson, Cara Halford and Gabrielle McNamee. You will all do great things and I can’t wait to see what the future of The Eagle holds. To everyone who came before me, especially the Abigail trifecta: Abigail Pritchard, Abby Turner and me. Thank you both for believing in me.
Post-grad, I will be working at CNN full-time. If you told this to freshman year Abigail, she would probably spontaneously combust. I am 100 percent certain I wouldn’t have gotten there without The Eagle. For that, I will forever be grateful. As I graduate, I can’t believe I get to say that I’ve accomplished my goals and had so much fun doing it. STUDENT JOURNALISM FOREVER!
- Daisy Bateman, Staff Photographer, Bachelors of Arts in Justice and Law & Public Administration
I started at The Eagle for a pretty simple reason: my parents had given me a camera in high school, and it had been sitting untouched in my old room ever since. Joining the paper felt like a good excuse to finally use it. I didn’t have big expectations or a clear plan. I just thought it would be a practical way to get involved and maybe learn something new.
What I didn’t realize at the time was how much the paper would end up influencing my college experience. I learned how to communicate clearly, how to handle deadlines and how to show up even when a story was inconvenient. It pushed me to pay attention to what was happening around me instead of just passing through campus.
The biggest surprise was how much I grew from being part of a team. Working with people who cared about accuracy and telling stories well made me raise my own standards about the work I produce. Looking back, picking up that dusty camera was a small decision that opened the door to something much bigger.
- Owen Auston-Babcock, Investigations & Data Editor, Bachelor of Science in Data Science & Journalism
I don’t know an AU without The Eagle. This newspaper has been my way of understanding the world I live in and the campus I study on for the last four years. I’ve discovered so many interesting — and often troubling — stories that affect the people and communities that I care about. I’ve learned to navigate the ethics of it all, and challenge myself to tell stories out of my comfort zone.
It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve come to appreciate that journalism, though hard, is immensely rewarding work. The Eagle has given me so many opportunities to learn, struggle and grow, personally and professionally. I’ve been lucky to make some amazing friends and memories along the way.
Thanks to all those who have made it an incredible experience, including (though definitely not limited to): Jordan Young, Izzy Fantini, Walker Whalen, Penelope Jennings, Maya Cederlund and the many reporters who I've edited in the past year-and-a-half. Plus, special shoutouts to my alumni mentor, Skye Witley, and the professors who have made a lifelong impact on my career — John Watson, Aarushi Sahejpal, Amy Eisman, Lynne Perri and Paul Albergo.
- Kathryn Squyres, Staff Photographer, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
The Eagle has been a constant throughout my four years at AU. I’ve bounced around to a handful of roles because I kept wanting to write about — and now photograph — new things.
When I joined the news section in the fall of my freshman year with next-to-no journalism experience, I was quickly overwhelmed. But I was welcomed by amazing editors like Jordan Young, who taught me the basics of reporting and interviewing, and Isabelle Kravis, who taught me how to write better and use AP Style. Those skills are the foundation to the reporting portfolio I’ve built in the years since.
This year, I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined the multimedia section. And while I would hardly call myself a proper photographer — I’m still just a girl playing with a camera — I’ve loved learning to capture images that truly enhance a story.
Working at The Eagle taught me to adapt and strengthened my curiosity about the world. It also connected me to some of the coolest, silliest and kindest people I know.
Thanks to Penelope Jennings for reminding me not to take myself too seriously and to Owen Auston-Babcock for always listening to my ramblings and pushing me to be a better reporter. Thanks to Maria Tedesco for learning way too much about Colorado politics with me and to Connor Sturniolo for trading silly cat reels and keeping me honest about my sleep schedule. Thank you to Sydney Hsu for ensuring that I always have whimsy in my life. Thank you to Jordan Young for everything.
Thanks to Gavin O’Malley for welcoming me to the multimedia section and hosting some of the most unserious (but somehow productive) pitch meetings. Thanks to Abigail Pritchard and Abigail Turner for encouraging me to study abroad in Copenhagen when I was hesitant to give up a semester in D.C.
And so, nearly 40 articles, dozens of photos, an unfortunate number of sleepless nights and hundreds of Google Docs comments and Slack messages later, it’s been quite a ride.
- Gavin O’Malley, Managing Editor of Multimedia, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
What do I think about my time on The Eagle?
I knew how to use a camera before The Eagle.
I leave it knowing more about photography than I ever expected to.
I had friends before The Eagle.
I leave it with more and richer friendships than I ever expected.
This place, the old Eagle office, my pitch meeting room, all of it, has been the perfect third space for me for every minute of my time here. I owe the organization so much, and I’m so proud to have been a small part of it.
To all the friends I met through The Eagle,
the people I trudged through the Encampments with,
the photographers, and graphic designers, who produced jaw-dropping work week in and week out
the writers whose stunning work gave me reason to make the pictures I love so much
and my staffers who made putting down my camera and sitting behind a laptop every Thursday more of a blast than it had any business being.
Thanks for having me, and for putting up with me
It’s been an absolute pleasure, and it couldn't have been less of a chore.
Serious thoughts aside: now the obligatory award-show-style thank you’s.
To Owen, I thank you for shoving me to The Eagle’s front door, I owe more of it to you than I admit.
To Izzy who explained non-journalists could be Eagles, and reminded me fun teams are the only ones people want to play for.
To Imaan, Larry Bird reborn, no cover we made would exist without you, and I wouldn’t want it to. The hours we spent doodling and laughing were worth the world to me.
To Josh, competing with you made me want to be a photographer, you helped keep it all together man.
To Walker for being a touch of reason and sense when I had no interest in either. Leveling every column with you taught me a healthy respect for word people.
To Daisy and Lilly for making sure every pitch got taken, you guys made my tenure look just professional enough.
To Ethan, thanks for letting me drag you to that second meeting, you’re an inspiration to colorblind artists everywhere.
To Aubree, thanks for wrangling the crowd and running aux, you’ve got a knack for it.
Also a thank you to Abigail Pritchard whose going away party was the first time I realized I belonged in the Eagle world, my favorite photographer on the planet Matheus; and thanks to everyone for making it all so much damn fun.
Alfie Pritchard, Silver Screen Editor, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; Cinema Studies minor
Tktk
- Conor Gillingham, Environment Editor, Bachelor of Science in Data Science & Journalism
It has been a wild ride to be a part of The Eagle during my time at AU. Being a part of this community has given me the opportunity to push forward and explore my capabilities as a journalist in more ways than one. My time as a part of the amazing space that is the Life Section cemented my love for environmental writing. My biggest accomplishment as a writer is my print piece about the Potomac river and efforts that were in progress to make it a healthy place for people to explore. Writing that piece with the help of the amazing people on the Life section inspired me to push forward with environmental writing as a reporting beat for my studies as a journalist. The community that the Life section built will always stick with me because it combines the cutting edge reporting with the fun aspects of campus life. When I first joined that section, I felt incredibly welcome and at home in a section where everyone was having fun writing the best stories they could. I would like to thank Jessica Ackerman for being an amazing managing editor and buddy throughout my time at The Eagle. I would like to thank Alfie Pitchard, Sydney Hemmer and Mina O’Dell for being great section editors and incredible people to work with. Lastly, I would like to thank Connor Sturniolo for introducing me to this wonderful community and being a great partner in crime throughout. Thanks for the amazing memories! Best to everyone in The Eagle moving forward.
- Imaan Hassan, Staff Graphic Designer, Bachelor of Science in Public Health; Public Policy minor
Being on The Eagle for the past four years has been both a fruitful and impactful experience. Coming off of my high school yearbook staff, I never thought I would find another home to create graphics and visualisations. The multi section has become such a special place where ideas start out as concepts that take shape so beautifully by our staffers.
I will greatly miss the organized dysfunction of multi pitch meetings where I never knew what to expect or who to expect walking into pitch. All things that are pretty conducive with the vibe of multi. I’ve also had the privilege of working with talented graphic designers and writers to bring stories to life. Working with such hardworking and talented individuals has made my time at the paper feel so rewarding and impactful. I’ve greatly appreciated the support of Izzy Fantini, whom I did some of my first print weekends with and who supported me and gave me endless flexibility in the role. And of course, our current ME, Gavin O’Malley, with whom we crushed the past two print editions with. His unprompted phone calls, utter confidence in my design abilities and movie references for any situation, have made my last year on staff so special. Conceptualising the past two covers with him were journeys to say the least, but I am so grateful I got to do them by his side. Gavin’s confidence and belief in his staff really strengthened the multi section this year, and I have no doubt the section will contribute to thrive under the next ME.
Thank you to everyone on staff (especially multi) who work hard to keep student journalism alive. I’m walking away with so many new skills and many new friends which I will forever be grateful for.
