Before I ever set foot in the UMB office, I had never worked on a newspaper in any capacity. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into. I joined The Observer because Auden Koetters, then-director of design, asked a group of us if anyone wanted to try layout. I just wanted something creative to do, so I said yes. Looking back now, that “yes” was undoubtedly one of the best and most pivotal decisions I made during my time at Case Western Reserve University. It was the moment my college experience truly began.
My first few weeks were spent tucked away in what I generously call the “design nook.” That tiny corner of the Thwing basement is where I first opened InDesign and realized, with a sinking feeling, that I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. But with Auden’s guidance (and an incredible amount of patience) I started to learn. Slowly, but surely, I fell into the rhythm of layout, figuring out the tiny, invisible details that make a newspaper come together. It was in that nook where I first met Tyler Vu. Tasked with creating a banner for the paper and generating graphics, he quickly became someone I looked forward to seeing every week (even though he told me to shut up back then just as much as he does now).
By my second year, I had really found my place, especially within the sports section. That section became my primary creative outlet; it was a space where I could experiment with bold visuals and actually feel like I was shaping something people would engage with. I pushed myself to learn Photoshop and Canva to build new designs, always encouraged by Auden to see how far we could stretch the aesthetic of the paper. Around this time, thanks to Shivangi Nanda, our executive editor at the time, we all started to attend bonding events. We finally got to know each other outside the fluorescent lights of the UMB office, and that was when the “team” started becoming a “family.”
This was also when my friendship with Lucas Yang started to blossom. He had joined the team as a graphic designer and was producing work each week that pushed the limits of what I thought was possible for a student publication. At the end of my second year, when conversations started about the next director of design, I knew I wanted to step up. But I also knew I couldn’t do it alone. I turned to Lucas and that partnership changed everything for me.
From the start, I knew working with Lucas would be something special. He came from a technical graphic design background while I had focused on the structural flow of layout, and that contrast just made sense. It meant we could split the work in a way that played to our individual strengths, but it also meant we could push each other to try things that felt risky. Where I thought in grids and margins, he brought in a level of creativity that lived beyond the page. Together, we were able to experiment, take risks and turn chaotic ideas into something far better than either of us could have produced in isolation.
I truly believe our rag-tag group of six is one of the closest groups of directors that The Observer or any club on campus has ever had. We didn’t just work together, we imbued our friendship into the very fabric of the paper. I would be remiss not to personally acknowledge the fantastic directors I’ve had the privilege of working alongside this year.
Our executive editor, Darcy Chew, is one of the hardest working people I know. We met my first year, back when she was a copy editor and I was just starting in layout. Somehow, we always ended up in the same SafeRide heading down from the UMB office. That’s really where our friendship started. The next year, when she became sports editor, I found my niche working on Upcoming Games and Scores. Every time I had some wild layout idea, Darcy was right there, willing to adjust the article on the fly to make it work. That collaboration carried all the way through this year, with us trying to make crazy layouts for every section of the paper and I’m so grateful for it. This year, she has led The Observer in a way that fosters connection among our members.
Auden Koetters, none of this would have happened without you. You’re the reason I joined The Observer in the first place. I still don’t understand how you manage to do everything you do. From teaching me InDesign from scratch to writing the funniest Fun page articles we’d all stay up way too late reading, you’ve been such a constant source of energy and support. You made me believe I could actually do this job. Now, as director of digital media, you still show up wherever you’re needed. Your dedication is unreal, and I know you’re going to do incredible things.
Tyler Vu, you were one of the first people I met, and somehow also one of the most chaotic (in the best way). As director of business operations, you basically started from nothing and built something that actually works. He somehow found ads everywhere and made sure we could keep running. Despite calling me an “idiot sandwich” every chance that he gets, Tyler brings unity to our team. Without him, The Observer would not function (literally, since he brings us food every week).
Hannah Johnson, our director of print, was absolutely made for her role. She always rolled with whatever chaos I brought into the room, including the random songs I’d start singing and somehow made me feel seen through all of it. She is the first one to start a little dance with me at 2 a.m., when I am delirious and finishing a page, and also the most dedicated writer and leader. She is not just amazing at what she does, she makes the entire process smoother and better for everyone around her.
Most of all, I need to thank Lucas Yang. Lucas and I met when he joined the design team as a graphic designer and he has never failed to blow me away. He makes art that genuinely transports me into the article that I am going to read. Willing to iterate on designs until he deems them perfect, Lucas has produced some of the most intricate images and designs. I know I threw some absolutely insane ideas your way, and I’m sorry for that, but you always came back with something even better than I imagined. Leading our team has been one of the highlights of my time here.
And to the entire design team—Sahar, Nithya, Shareen, Kiera, Reva, Anna, Jana, Kristina and I can’t forget Lizzy—this paper is what it is because of you. Week after week, you took ideas (sometimes very chaotic ones) and turned them into something real. Your work is the reason we were able to put out a paper we’re proud of every single week. I’m so grateful I got to lead and, more importantly, work alongside all of you. And an honorary shoutout to Tyler Sun and Phillip Kornberg for always helping us track down photos, because without you our pages would have been very empty.
The Observer became so much more than just something I did in college. It became a place where I grew, where I learned and where I found people who made all the long nights worth it. I’ll never forget the 3 a.m. brainrot, the sugar crashes, the leftover snacks and the sound of Tyler yelling nonsense across the room. In the middle of that beautiful chaos, I found a family that I will cherish forever.
Now, sitting here trying not to cry while writing these final words, I just want to say thank you. I found so much of myself in the basement of Thwing, and that’s because of all of you. I didn’t plan to join The Observer that day Auden asked for help. But I know now, with total certainty, that it was exactly where I was meant to be.