Mia Helfrich Creative Director:
I can’t remember what pulled me into The Tribune. I showed up to an Arts and Entertainment pitch meeting before classes began in my first year at McGill. My memories of university simply start here. After writing articles for a few months, I became curious about layout design, and started contributing to the illustration section. Next thing I know, I’m accepting positions as Design Editor, then Creative Director. I am endlessly grateful to be a member of our tight-knit community of creatives, and for the mentorship I received in my graphic design, drawing, photography, and writing. For me, university begins and ends with The Tribune—it would not be the same without it.
Nell Pollak, Managing Editor:
Would you believe me if I told you that I started at The Tribune as a spy? Well, maybe not an adversarial spy, but a mole—sent by a Communications professor I was researching for, tasked with writing for each McGill student paper to map their editorial structures. The Tribune was my first target. I walked into the board room having no clue what to expect, but found myself inexplicably drawn to the art of an op-ed—the slow alchemy of a broad opinion hardening into a sharp argument, the rabbit holes of research, the thesaurus searches to find the word I didn’t even know I was looking for. By the end of that first piece, my original undercover mission had slipped from my consciousness entirely. That next month, I applied to be an Opinion Editor; the following year, Managing Editor. I arrived to observe, and I leave having been intrinsically altered by the incredible community I found.
Malika Logossou, Managing Editor:
I first discovered The Tribune when a friend shared a News article with me in my first year. Later, after the incoming Editor-in-Chief encouraged me to get involved, I formally encountered it. I joined, scared of the outcome or of not liking it. But what I originally signed up for as a simple extracurricular activity became such an important part of my years at McGill. As a commuter, finding a community on campus isn’t always easy, but I found a sense of belonging through the strong connections I built at this paper. I am so privileged to have read and edited such outstanding pieces, and I will miss this deeply rewarding experience. I cannot wait to see what The Tribune does next year, knowing it’s in competent hands.
Defne Feyzioglu, Opinion Editor:
As I walked down McTavish Street after our last editorial board meeting, I kept thinking about how strange it is to find yourself in a place you least expect. I started my McGill journey with nothing but a lot of confusion and a sharp sense of unbelonging. In a new city across the ocean, and knowing so little about myself, I just tried: Picked up new hobbies, went to gatherings, considered changing faculties, partied at Café Campus (though, in retrospect, not the greatest site of self-discovery), and drifted. But somehow, it was at The Tribune’s pitch meeting that something clicked. Somewhere in that room, I discovered my love for journalism and grew into my voice. I now leave The Tribune with more gratitude than one final paragraph could ever contain.
Gregor McCall, Student-Life Editor:
When I joined The Tribune earlier this year, I was, in all honesty, scared to death. My experience in student journalism was next to nothing—only a single piece in Science and Technology two years before I applied to be an editor. What I found was unlike anything another campus organization could have offered me. The Tribune gave me a chance to pursue truly important stories on campus. With the help of my brilliant Managing Editor, Nell Pollak, and amazing Co-Editor, Tamiyana Roemer, we gave Student Life both a more serious tone, following campus protests and activism, and also brought back some much-needed whimsy with a number of hilarious satirical pieces. I’ve loved every article I had the privilege to write, and I will cherish every minute I got to spend with our incomparable Editorial Board.
Ethan Kahn, Sports Editor:
Whenever someone wraps up a major chapter in their life, the goal for many is to finish that time without any regrets. Unfortunately, I have one regret about my four years at McGill: I waited until my third year to join The Tribune. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that being a part of The Tribune for the past two years has been the most rewarding experience I could have imagined. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many incredible, driven, and caring writers and editors. A massive thank you to my Managing Editors, Mairin Burke and Kaitlyn Schramm, and my co-editor Clara Smyrski for making me feel so welcomed, and of course to all of the fabulous writers who worked tirelessly throughout the year. I’m immensely proud of the work we have done, and I am so excited to see how the paper evolves in the future.
Jenna Durante, Features Editor:
Last year, I came into the Trib as a SciTech Editor and had the privilege of switching over to Features this year. Anxious about starting the new role, I was eager to see all that we would accomplish in the Features section. What a joy it has been to be part of such a brilliant team of editors and designers for the past two years. I am beyond grateful to have worked one-on-one with the editors to help develop their investigative articles every week—I learned so much from everyone. I cannot thank them enough for their time, care, and dedication to making this section come to life, and for sharing the stories that are so close to their hearts.
Leanne Cherry, SciTech Editor:
I attended my first-ever SciTech pitch meeting towards the end of my first year, with the hope of finally trying out scientific writing. However, at the time, the thought of doing an interview scared me so badly that I didn’t go through with the article. It took me until the beginning of my third year to finally return to those pitch meetings. Looking back now, I can confidently say that becoming a contributor and an editor for The Tribune was the best choice I’ve made at McGill, not merely because it showed me that I was capable of science writing, but because I have truly found some of the kindest and smartest people I have ever known. I cannot overstate my gratitude for this newspaper and the people who make its existence possible.
Armen Erzingatzian, Photo Editor:
My regrettably short journey at The Tribune started because all I really wanted to do was take perfect, pretty little pictures. My year at the paper turned out to be by far the most influential of my five years at McGill. Covering protests and other events as a photographer and the occasional interviewer-writer made me feel like I had a finger on the pulse of my hometown. It helped me understand the issues that affect my community and think critically about them. Through assignments and team meetings, I built incredibly meaningful relationships with the brightest, kindest and most driven people around. They made me a stronger, more responsible, and more empathetic person, and taught me more than I dared to imagine. Thank you, Trib. I’ll miss you.
Rupneet Shahriar, Web Editor:
I hadn’t planned to join The Tribune in my final year at McGill. For most of my time, I believed journalism and I were meant to run parallel, and I was content watching from the sidelines. That changed when a friend mentioned they were looking for someone with coding skills. I stepped in hesitantly, unsure if I had the voice or confidence to belong. But I soon found myself surrounded by people who are incredibly thoughtful, fearless, and deeply passionate about what they do. Their commitment helped me to trust my ideas and express them more freely. In doing so, I rediscovered my love for storytelling. I’m incredibly grateful to The Tribune for that, and it’s bittersweet that my journey here was so short. Nonetheless, I’m excited for what comes next!
Serena Elsammak, Video Editor:
Throughout my entire undergraduate experience at McGill, I always looked up to The Tribune; its value for honest, independent, and against-the-mainstream journalism resonated deeply with me. In a time where dominant news narratives have demonized people from my community and my family members back home in Lebanon, I have been especially grateful for The Tribune’s humanizing and justice-oriented work. For a long time, I flirted with the idea of applying for a role at The Tribune, but every time I wanted to apply, something else came up that wouldn’t let me go all-in. Finally, this last semester, the application for Multimedia Video Editor went up, and I was immediately drawn in. Using editing software creatively and simply documenting have always been passions of mine. The Tribune allowed me to re-explore this creative side of myself, and for that, and much more, I am extremely grateful.
Anna Seger, Photo Editor:
I joined The Tribune in the fall of my second year. The splendour of Montreal’s autumn is always a source of inspiration for me, albeit a fleeting one, fading slightly as the leaves drop from their branches and a bitter chill fills the air. These past two years, though, the brilliant minds I’ve met through The Tribune have been a steady source of inspiration, not only because of their ambition and intelligence but also because of their kindness and sincerity. I am constantly moved by your creative spirits, your thoughtful contributions, and our truly countless meaningful discussions. I cannot wait to see the wonderful things you all go on to do.