Meet Our Staff
Co-Founder & Executive Editor
Nic Cazin
Nic Cazin (they/them) is a second-year student pursuing a B.A. in Creative Writing and Ancient Civilizations, as well as a minor in French and a certificate in sustainability. In their free time, they love to read, hike, and hang out with their cat. Nic grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and hopes to create a safe space where queer people can express themselves freely in this time of uncertainty.
Co-Founder & Managing Editor
Riley Babel
Riley Babel (she/her) is in her second year studying English and Creative writing with a minor in Anthropology. She plans to go into the literary publishing industry as an editor. Riley's goals are to promote acceptance and advocate for queer people to be able to express themselves and always have a voice.
Co-Design Editor
Ben Van Gorp
Ben Van Gorp (they/them) is a 3rd year 3D Design student who enjoys making things, drawing, and rock climbing. Ben's post-graduation plans include (hopefully) making cool things for a living, potentially pursuing a graduate degree, and most definitely climbing rocks.
Co-Design Editor
Solomon Wong
Solomon Wong (he/they) is a first-year English/Creative Writing and Screenwriting Arts major from the Chicagoland suburbs. His hobbies include knitting and crochet, guitar, photography, going to open mics, and making Pinterest boards. Their favorite genres include speculative fiction, period dramas, and spoken word poetry.
Social Media Manager
Kat DeBauche
Kat (she/they) is a writer who can be found doing anything but writing. This includes being on literary magazines, managing multiple social medias, working three jobs, and doing every side quest she possibly can with a lavender matcha in hand.
Website Editor
Jessica Pfeifer
Jessica Pfeifer (she/her) is a second-year Theatre Arts and English & Creative Writing major who appreciates the little things in life! She is also the Cover Designer for Catharsis and works at Hancher Auditorium. In her free time, you might find her junk journaling in her hammock or birdwatching by the river.
Our Beta Readers
Leah Peña
Leah Peña (she/her) is a junior studying English and Creative Writing and Social Work with minor in Psychology, as well as a certificate in Resilience and Trauma-Informed Perspectives. When she is not working through her massive TBR list, you can find her perusing the shelves of the Haunted Bookshop. Her goals are to celebrate queer creativity and foster large-scale understanding of the community's diversity, resilience, and beauty.
Caitlin Heidgerken
Caitlin Heidgerken (she/her) is a second year English and Creative Writing major on the Literary Publishing Track. Â In her free time, she crochets cute things, writes bloody things, and reads everything in between.
Theo Downey
Theo Downey (he/him) is a junior in the Creative Writing program! When he’s not trapped in a classroom behind an arduous amount of homework, he can be found making chocolate milk, reading in a semi-public area, and thinking about writing on a whiteboard.
Norah Heise
Norah Heise (she/her) is a first year English and creative writing major. She enjoys writing, the outdoors, and poorly playing the harmonica.
Thomas Jackson
Thomas Jackson (he/him) is a second year studying English & Creative Writing on the Literary Publishing track. An aspiring editor, he also enjoys overanalyzing video games and pretending to understand Beijing Opera.
Addison Long
Addison (she/they) is an English and Creative Writing major on the Publishing track, and she's very excited to be working with Orlando this semester! They love all kinds of stories, especially queer stories, but they have a soft spot for anime and video games.