The Tacoma Ledger is the independent weekly collegiate newspaper of the University of Washington Tacoma. All content is generated by Ledger-employed student journalists currently enrolled at UWT. The Ledger strives to adhere to student interests and local news. UWT Administration, student organizations, and students and clubs exercise no editorial control over the publication. Funding is provided through the UW Tacoma Services and Activities Fee and supplemented by advertising revenue.

Our Mission Statement: The Tacoma Ledger is committed to presenting high-quality student news to inform and engage with the University of Washington Tacoma community. We strive to represent student voices while creating a professional environment in which student writers can hone their journalism skills and express themselves.  

EDITORS

Karla Pastrana – Editor-in-Chief 

Karla Santiago Pastrana (she/her) is a senior who is majoring in Writing Studies. As a first-gen Chicana she strives to help her community in any way she can through community services, advocating, and representation. When she isn’t editing for the Ledger, buried in classwork, or with the community she is writing creatively, drawing, working on cosplay, or running around downtown Seattle.   

Elissa Blankenship – Managing Editor

Elissa Blankenship is a senior at UWT and is working on her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. She is a creative nature writer who writes about hikes with her dogs and life on her farm, whenever she is not researching information about Silkie chickens or networking in animal rescue to rehome a rare dog breed. She looks forward to connecting with students, staff and faculty of UWT and reporting community and environmental stories.   

Jamenson Aleman – Opinion Editor 

Rachel Meatte – A&E Editor 

Rachel Meatte (she/her) is a senior at UWT majoring in film with an undergraduate in writing. She is passionate about telling meaningful stories that move people. Her goal is to write and direct her own films one day. In her spare time when she’s not juggling work and school, she is helping at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple or walking dogs at the Pierce County Humane Society as a volunteer. She enjoys hiking, playing chess and walking her dogs.  

 

 
 

MANAGERS 

Francisco Plaza – Ad Manager 

  
 

Layout/Content Manager  

 

NEWS 

 Michaela Ely – News Reporter

OPINION 
 
 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

 

Michael Doyle – A&E Columnist  

 

DESIGN/ART 
 

Cole Martin – Illustrator 

Cole Martin is starting their senior year at UWT, majoring in Arts, Media and Culture’s visual/performing arts track. A former A&E writer at The Ledger, Cole transferred to the Illustrator position to push themselves in their art. They have an interest in all kinds of art mediums, spanning from digital and traditional drawing and painting, felt stitching and amigurumi crochet, 3D modelling with Blender and basic game making in Godot, as well as a lighter interest in playing guitar and keyboard. Interest doesn’t mean proficiency, however, so Cole uses their time at UWT to further these skills wherever they can.

Parker Nelson – Photographer