These six Communiqué members are on track to graduate at the end of the fall 2025 semester. To mark this milestone, we invited them to reflect on their time as student journalists, offering insight into their most memorable Communiqué contributions.
My name is Tiana, and I am graduating with my BFA in creative writing, a journalism minor and a women’s leadership certificate.
I first got into journalism the summer before my second year at Chatham when I did an internship at a newspaper in my hometown. After that, I fell in love with journalism and started writing for the Communiqué and did an internship with Pittsburgh Magazine.
My favorite article I wrote for the Communiqué is one of my very first, an opinion piece titled “Reflections from a fangirl: misogyny in fan culture.” I got to share my perspective on being a fangirl and combat the stigmatized view of how women in fan culture are often labeled as obsessive.
My name is Steph, and I’m a psychology major with a concentration in criminology. I transferred to Chatham during fall 2024 from Slippery Rock University (SRU). Prior to my semester at SRU, I attended Point Park University for three semesters.
Originally, I started as a contributing writer during my freshman year at Point Park where I wrote for the student newspaper, The Globe. In retrospect, I should have written more articles, because I enjoy writing. Still, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to write for both The Globe and The Communiqué. During my freshman year, I wrote my favorite pieces, an opinion piece on the Daytona 500 and a tribute on David Crosby from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
As a transfer student, I’ve had the opportunity to experience various college environments from Point Park to Slippery Rock, and finally Chatham. I am genuinely grateful for the chance to move around and attend different universities; if I had the chance to go back, I would take a similar path. Transferring universities opened my eyes to new possibilities and changed me for the better. Each university has provided a unique educational environment that helped me grow and further explore my prospective career.
As the semester wraps up, I am left feeling both reminiscent and bittersweet. For me, each semester feels like a separate chapter in the book of my life. If I had stayed at Point Park for my entire undergraduate education, I don’t believe I would have transformed into who I am today, as my aspirations were quite different back then.
In general, college should not only enhance your education, but also be a place where you can make invaluable connections that can last a lifetime. Chatham has helped me build a community away from home — a community that I can rely on, trust and feel supported by.
Reflecting on my combined college experiences, I recognize the many opportunities I’ve had to thrive and grow in different roles and capacities as an undergraduate student. I am also grateful for the friends and meaningful connections that I have made through my undergraduate years. I wish all my fellow graduates the best of luck after undergrad.
Finally, thank you to my parents, family and close friends for their continued support throughout my journey.
My name is Madison Stokes and I am from Harrisburg, Pa. I will be graduating with a major in English and minors in creative writing and journalism.
My journalism journey began in the spring of 2023 when I connected with Sara Bauknecht who introduced me to the journalism field. Since then, I have written for multiple Pittsburgh and Harrisburg-based news outlets like the Pittsburgh Media Partnership, The Pittsburgh Independent, The Northside Chronicle, the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, NEXTPittsburgh, Soul PITT Media, BlackPittsburgh.com, TribLive and PennLive, reporting on topics such as hyperlocal news, politics, lifestyle, and arts & entertainment.
The Communiqué and other news outlets have given me a way to grow as a writer, become comfortable with interviews and, of course, practice AP Style. I jump at every opportunity I get to highlight local news and tell stories that would otherwise go untold.
Though this is a hard decision, my favorite piece I have written for the Communiqué is titled “Your vote is your voice: Chatham students weigh in on voting.” I especially enjoyed sharing how Chatham students are becoming informed citizens before using their right to vote and how international students are encouraging their peers to utilize their right to vote.
I would like to give a warm thank you to Sara Bauknecht for supporting me throughout my academic journey, Bella White and the Communiqué contributors for their hard work in producing meaningful content and to my family and friends in my circle who continue to encourage me.
My name is Gage. I’m originally from a small town in Pennsylvania and made the switch to city life in 2022. In December, I’ll graduate from Chatham University with a major in public relations and a minor in journalism.
After starting as a math major, I realized I wanted a career that allowedme to be creative and connect with people, which led me to communications. Communication Professor and Communiqué Faculty Adviser Sara Bauknecht’s newsroom classes inspired me to join the media outlet, where I discovered my passion for storytelling.
My favorite piece was my still-irrefutable Halloween candy ranking in 2024, because it combined research with a fun, lighthearted topic that sparked great conversations among friends.
My name is Arlo Grey MacFarland. I’ve been the resident music writer for the last three years, recently wrapping up my column, Lightning Rod. I would describe my writing as more of a diary, adding my thoughts and quips into nearly everything I make.
My favorite piece I’ve written for the Communiqué would be my love letter to Pittsburgh DIY. I think it sums up my time here perfectly, and you should definitely read it. After graduation, I will be publishing with Deja Magazine as the makeup artist director and contributing writer.
My name is Kyle. I am a physics major turned photographer turned journalist, so you could say my academic journey has been less than linear.
In journalism, I discovered the opportunity to use my visual arts and writing skills for a singular purpose: reporting on issues impacting the community to help people make informed decisions.
My favorite story I covered for the Communiqué was the faculty union effort, without which I never would have discovered a passion for labor law.
