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 

For Jamenson Aleman, every story is a window into the human spirit. As a former staff writer for The Pinnacle at Pierce College, he’s learned that everyone has something important to say. Whether he’s lost in a good book or unraveling a philosophical question, Jamenson draws on his love of history, theology, philosophy and writing to discover the truths that shape our daily lives. Now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Writing Studies after earning an Associate of Art from Pierce College, he is more determined than ever to share stories that challenge, inspire, and connect us all.

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 

 Francisco Plaza is a Senior at UWT majoring in Business Management. He enjoys watching movies and TV shows as well as listening to all kinds of music. The Fifth Element 1997 is his favorite movie. When he’s not working at The Ledger, he is busy with schoolwork and spends time with his dogs and friends. He also enjoys working on cars and has restored a 1977 Datsun 280z which he is enormously proud of. 
 

Zecret Truex – Layout/Content Manager  

 
Zecret Truex is a Senior at UWT majoring in Arts, Media and Culture. With an extensive background in artistry she earned her Associate’s degree in Fine Arts from Green River College where she found a passion for oil painting. Zecret is a successful commission painter and also enjoys doing special effects makeup, sculpting, theatre prop design and content creation. In addition to the arts, she is a skin care specialist and licensed esthetician. When she is able to master the balance of school/work and designing content layouts for The Ledger, she spends her free time with her family, enjoys nature, hiking, traveling, and a good book paired with good wine. 

NEWS 

 Michaela Ely – News Reporter

OPINION 
 
 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

 

Michael Doyle – A&E Columnist  

Michael Doyle is a Senior majoring in Communications and pursuing a career in journalism. He was born and raised in Tacoma. He enjoys covering local bands, pop culture, and small businesses after previously working in the News section for the Ledger. When he is not working or doing schoolwork, he enjoys songwriting and attending concerts.

 

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

Parker Nelson is currently a Junior at UWT majoring in Computer Science. Outside of school, he is a street and documentary photographer. Photography has always been in his blood, as many people in his family were photographers. For him, it is a way of expressing his thoughts and views. He found that visual storytelling speaks to him because of how powerful it is to capture people or moments in time. So, instead, he picked up a camera and hasn’t put it down since.