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
Faculty adviser
Kie Relyea relyead@wwu.edu
Official social media accounts
Twitter: @TheFrontOnline
Facebook: The Western Front
Instagram: @thefrontonline
Winter 2024 Editorial Staff
Editor in Chief
Andrew Foster (he/him) is the editor-in-chief for The Front this spring. He expects to graduate at the end of the quarter with a degree in news/editorial journalism. Beginning as a sports reporter for The Front in the winter of 2023, he held the role of sports editor in the fall before becoming managing editor during winter quarter and now serves as editor-in-chief. He enjoys covering various sports, particularly basketball, and writing feature stories. Outside of journalism, Andrew likes to play basketball, cook and listen to music.
You can reach him at eic.westernfront@gmail.com.
Managing Editor
Aislinn Jones (she/her) is the managing editor for The Front this quarter. This is her fifth and final quarter on The Front, as she will be graduating at the end of the quarter with a degree in Visual Journalism. Previously she has been a city life reporter and has edited photos, campus life and city life. When she’s not hunkered down in the newsroom, she can be found basking in the sun and drawing in her sketchbook.
You can contact her at aislinnjones.thefront@gmail.com.
City Life Editor
Madi Tessem (she/her) is the city life editor for The Front this quarter. She was Sports editor this past winter quarter and a sports reporter fall 2023. Madi is a third year at Western, majoring in Communications and Public Relations. In her free time, she likes to paint, read and spend time with friends.
You can reach her at citylife.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 ball 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 loves playing the newest sports video game. He plays the guitar and enjoys the occasional hike to get outside.
You can reach him at sportsreceditor.thefront@gmail.com.
City News Editor
Franny Vollert (she/her) is the city news editor this quarter at The Front. She is a sophomore majoring in journalism with a news/editorial concentration. She enjoys reading, taking walks and spending time with friends.
You can reach her at citynewseditor.thefront@gmail.com.
Campus Life Editor
Mina Di Virgilio (she/her) is the campus life editor for The Front this quarter. She is a third year Spanish major and Journalism/public relations minor. Outside of reporting on Western’s campus, Mina enjoys reading, drawing, and figure skating.
You can reach her at campuslifeeditor.thefront@gmail.com.
Campus News Editor
Ava Glaspell (she/her) is the campus news editor for The Front this quarter. She has previously been a campus news reporter on The Front and has been featured in Klipsun Magazine. This is her second year at Western, with a major in news/editorial journalism and a minor in Political Science. Outside of reporting Ava loves to climb, swim in the bay, and eat ice cream.
You can reach her at campusnewseditor.thefront@gmail.com.
Opinion and Outreach Editor
Seddie LeBlanc (they/she) is the opinions editor for The Front this quarter. They have previously reported and edited for the Campus News beat. Seddie is in their third year at Western studying Journalism and minoring in Law, Diversity, and Justice. In her free time, Seddie enjoys being outside, cooking, and going to house shows.
You can reach them at Westernfront.opeditor@gmail.com.
Copy Desk
Jack Glenn (he/him) is one of two copy editors for The Front's spring quarter. He has been working on The Front for almost two years as a reporter and editor. While a journalism news/editorial major in his fourth year, Jack is also an accounting minor and an officer for Western's Society of Professional Journalists. He has articles published all over Washington, including The Seattle Times, The News Tribune, Bellingham Herald and Spokesman Review.
Mathias Holshouser (he/him) is a copy editor for The Front. He is in his final year at Western with a major in creative writing. He spends his time writing, hiking and rereading The Book of Disquiet.
You can reach them both at copydesk.thefront@gmail.com.
Diversity and Inclusion Outreach Editor
Janisa Cook (she/her) is a second-year at Western and is in the PR major. She worked on The Front last quarter as an opinions reporter and is the diversity and inclusion outreach editor for spring quarter. In her free time, Janisa loves going to coffee shops and trying new restaurants. She is also a coxswain on the women’s rowing team.
You can reach her at communityoutreach.thefront@gmail.com.
Public Editor
Morgan Merriam (she/her) is the public editor for The Front this quarter. Previously, she has been a reporter for campus news, managing editor, campus news editor and campus life editor for The Front. Morgan is in her third year at Western, majoring in journalism/public relations with a minor in sociology. Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys jewelry making, baking and hiking.
You can reach her at pr.thefront@gmail.com.
Photo and Video Editor
Riley Nachtrieb is an incoming transfer student from Seattle, studying Recreational Management, with an emphasis on Outdoor Tourism. She is an award winning filmmaker, having travelled across continents filming endurance races. She is an ultra-endurance athlete, setting multiple ultra-running records and races around the world.
You can reach her at photographer.thefront@gmail.com.
Social Media Editor
Emma Flentke (she/her) is the social media editor for The Front this quarter. She is expected to graduate in winter 2024 with a degree in journalism. Some of her hobbies outside of school are going to the gym and thrifting.
You can reach her at eflentke@gmail.com.
Special Projects Editor
Reva Karnik (she/her) is the special projects editor for The Front this year. She is a fifth-year cell & molecular biology major and is a biology student ambassador. She was previously The Front's social media editor in winter and spring 2023. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, lifting at the rec and getting matcha with friends.
You can reach her at karnikr@wwu.edu.
Visual Artist
Isabella Doughty (she/her) is the visual artist for The Front this quarter. She is a Design major in her second year at Western. When she isn’t illustrating, she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding and hanging out with her dog.
You can reach her at photographer.thefront@gmail.com
