About Us
The Front is the official, independent student newspaper of Western Washington University. News and opinion content is written, edited and published by students. Staff reporters are enrolled in a course in the department of journalism, but any student enrolled at Western may offer stories, photos or guest columns to the editors. The Front is primarily supported by student fees.
Please contact The Front’s editors with any questions, comments or concerns about this site or our coverage of Western, Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Want to submit a guest piece?
Check out these guidelines we created to help start a guest piece. After review of the above guidelines, submit this form indicating your agreement to The Front's guest piece guidelines. Please submit the final piece to westernfront.opeditor@gmail.com.
Want to advertise?
Direct inquiries to our advertising department. advertise.thefront@gmail.com
Kie Relyea relyead@wwu.edu
Official social media accounts
Facebook: The Western Front
Instagram: @thefrontonline
Fall 2024 Editorial Staff
Editor in Chief
Morgan Merriam (she/her) is the editor-in-chief for The Front this quarter. Previously, she has been a reporter for campus news, managing editor, campus news/life editor and a public relations representative for The Front. Morgan is in her senior year at Western, majoring in journalism/public relations with a minor in sociology. Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys jewelry making, baking and volunteer dog walking. You can reach her at morganmerriam.thefront@gmail.com or eic.westernfront@gmail.com
Managing Editor
Eli Voorhies (he/him) is a fourth-year student at Western in the visual journalism program. Now serving as the managing editor, he has worked two previous stints as a Front editor and interned for Cascadia Daily News. Outside of the newsroom, he rock climbs and loses track of time in the photography dark room on campus. You reach him at eliv.thefront@gmail.com
City News Editor
Franny Vollert (she/her) is the city news editor for The Front this quarter. She is a junior double majoring in news/editorial journalism and sociology. She likes to read, go on walks and spend time with her friends. You can reach her at frannyvollert.thefront@gmail.com
City Life Editor
Madi Tessem (she/her) is the city life editor for The Front this quarter. She has been an editor for the past three quarters and was previously a reporter last fall. In her free time you can find her painting, reading or hanging out with her cat. You can reach her at maditessem.thefront@gmail.com
Campus News Editor
Ava Glaspell (She/Her) is the campus news editor this quarter. This will be her third quarter on The Front and her second quarter as a member of the publication staff. In addition to reporting for The Front, her work has been published in Klipsun Magazine. When she's not in the newsroom, she can be found climbing, drinking coffee or exploring the beach. You can reach her at avaglaspell.thefront@gmail.com
Campus Life Editor
Mina Di Virgilio (she/her) is the Campus Life editor for The Front this quarter. This is her second quarter as an editor, and was a reporter last winter. Mina is a fourth year Spanish major and Journalism (PR) minor. Her favorite things to do are reading, traveling, jumping into Whatcom Falls and figure skating. You can reach her at campuslifeeditor.thefront@gmail.com
Sports Editor
Zen Hill (he/him) is the sports and recreation editor for The Front. He is a junior at Western who has worked as a play-by-play commentator for WWU Athletics for the last three years. Zen is also the voice of the Bellingham Bells, a local summer baseball team featuring college prospects. He has written for The Front's sports beat and for Klipsun Magazine. In his free time, he collects sports cards and plays the guitar. You can reach him at sportsreceditor.thefront@gmail.com
Opinion and Outreach Editor
Oren Roberts (they/them) is the opinions editor for The Front this fall. Previously, they wrote for The Front as a City News reporter. They are a senior studying news/editorial journalism. When not writing or editing, they enjoy brewing kombucha, taking long walks and photographing the beauty of Bellingham. You can reach them at westernfront.opeditor@gmail.com
Copy Desk
Aiden Luhr (he/him) is one of two copy editors for The Front this quarter. He is a senior majoring in journalism: news/editorial. In his free time, Aiden likes to hang out with his friends, watch and play sports and play video games. You can reach him at copydesk.thefront@gmail.com
Megan Shamon (she/her) is one of the two copy editors for the fall 2024 Front staff. She is a senior, double majoring in english literature and creative writing. In her free time she enjoys reading, creating art, writing and spending time with friends in Bellingham!
Diversity and Inclusion Outreach Editor
Neisha Gaskins (she/her) is a third-year student at Western studying news/editorial journalism. This is her second quarter with The Front, previously working as a campus life reporter and now as the diversity and inclusion outreach editor. When she isn’t writing, Neisha spends her time reading, making jewelry and sorting her recycling. You can reach her at neishag.thefront@gmail.com
Photo and Video Editor
Ayden Sweat (he/him) is the photo editor for The Front this quarter. He has previously been a campus news reporter for The Front. Ayden is in his fourth-year at Western studying visual journalism and minoring in anthropology. Outside of the newsroom he hosts a radio show at KUGS-FM Bellingham, cooks and explores the outdoors. He can be reached at aydensweat.thefront@gmail.com
Visual Artist
Kristina (She/Her), born in Seattle, WA, is a visual journalism major in her fourth year and the visual artist this quarter. She finds her footing in areas like sketch art, graphic art and design and photography. In her spare time, she finds herself enjoying recreational activities, reading and cooking.
Social Media Editor
Emma Flentke (she/her) is the social media editor this quarter. She is majoring in public relations and minoring in communications. In her free time, you can find her in the gym or hanging out with friends.
