There’s no way to describe my time as editor in chief without sounding incredibly corny, slapping cliches on the page, and definitely not with dry eyes. But what other way is there to describe such a wonderful experience? An experience that over a hundred people have had before me, and another hundred will after. 

There were many iterations of this piece; all were me trying to have a reflection different from the ones before. But then I realized: raw emotions are corny, often riddled with cliches, and don’t usually happen with dry eyes. 

Three years at The Maroon and one as editor in chief has taught me many things, but one stands out above the rest: you are not alone. The Maroon has given me some of my dearest friends, fondest memories, and a space where I felt free to be myself while doing what I love. It is so much more than a newspaper. It’s a home away from home, a space where people get to grow as humans, journalists, students. I am beyond fortunate to have been able to call this place, this office, this publication, these people, my home. Every person who has passed through the newsroom has taught me something, and each has reminded me that The Maroon is a community that supports not just those who work here but our campus and all who involve Loyola. 

Nearly every Wednesday for the last three years, I have made the late-night walk back to my dorm with a sense of fulfillment that I, and all the wonderful people I work with, were making a difference. We were capable of giving people a voice, furthering change, and doing what we set out to do: be the mirror and the lamp for Loyola University. I don’t think I could be prouder of the people who have worked so hard with me this last year. 

And as my time as EIC, and at The Maroon, comes to a close, I think of the people who brought me this far. 

I am forever grateful to Kloe Witt, the person who brought me in and taught me what it meant to be a Marooner. I am grateful to my two advisors, Michael Giusti and Gabby Killett Vargas, who offered me endless guidance both before and during my time as EIC. And I will always be immensely thankful to every person who supported me during my Maroon career: the staff I worked with, my parents for the numerous calls, my roommates for late night debriefs, my best friends for encouragement, professors for the guidance and grace, everyone I interviewed (or badgered for a statement), the editors I worked under, and every other person that we shared the words, “The Maroon.” You all are what has made my time here so meaningful, and every person taught me something about myself, managing, journalism, and the world around me. 

I am very excited to pass the torch, and the special desk chair that is a little different than all the others, to your next editor, Alana Frank. I have had the pleasure of watching her grow as a journalist the last two years, and I feel confident she is going to lead The Maroon into another semester of greatness. 

Thank you to everyone who reads, supports, criticizes, and contributes to The Maroon. You make us possible and better. As I face my future without The Maroon, and with a lot more time on my hands, I know that every lesson I learned here will take me far. 

I am proud to always, and forever, be a Marooner.  

Eloise Pickering

Editor in Chief, Aug. 2025 – May 2026