Student Life has a lot of slightly strange traditions, but our Valentine’s Day issue definitely has to be one of the weirdest. Every February, we publish the Student Life Sex Issue, where we ask the student body of WashU about their sex habits, from their rice purity score to what songs they want on their romantic playlist. As co-editor-in-chief this year, I got to make the important decisions: what songs, from the 264 submitted, should go on our official playlist. Under the yes: “Lover’s Rock” and “Careless Whisper” (the George Michael version, not the Yung Gravy edition). Under the slightly questionable: “One Beer” by MF Doom and “Free Bird.”  Under the definitely not: “Wheels on the Bus,” and “Don’t Stop Believing,” but specifically, by the GLEE cast.

Every year, I table at the freshman activities fair and get to explain why I’ve joined Student Life.  Parents and pre-freshman stroll past us in the carpeted fieldhouse, and they ask me about what being on staff has been like. “It’s been one of the highlights of my college experience,” I tell them. “I feel like I’ve been able to write about a lot of impactful topics.” The parents then glance down at the table, and their eyes focus on the cover of the Sex Issue with the college students posing in harnesses that we carefully constructed from Twizzlers. They might pick the issue up, and glance at the semi-nude photoshoot that our staff did in the office. Their eyes might widen. Is this what college is like, they might wonder.  Is this what journalism on college campuses has been reduced to? What’s little Timmy going to get up to for over the next four years? 

I could explain to them the value of sex positivity in the discourse on college campuses. I could bring up that potentially the funniest article in the past four years, a hilarious tale about LeBron James and conception and creating the next LeBaby, was written for the Sex Issue. But they never end up asking questions; they drop it like it could singe them, and they skitter off to the next table for the much safer topic of WashU’s recycling practices. 

The Sex Issue is just one example of the creative freedom that Washington University fosters — the opportunity for hard work and a little silliness without any dire consequences attached. We’re able to work on something that doesn’t have to be useful in the greater scheme of things, something with the purpose of being fun and graphically cool and promoting sex positivity. For me, that’s been part of the joy of Student Life, and WashU in general: the opportunity to have fun, knowing that the consequences of your mistakes are never too huge. Our campus creates an environment that encourages risk-taking and growth, whether in writing, academics, or friendships. Granted, as a paper, we’ve certainly worked on larger-scale stories and hard-hitting journalism than the Sex Issue. But it’s the combination of hard work and constant fun that I’ve valued in this organization

I’ve spent so much time in our windowless office, checking Slack or on the phone with our editors, and it’s been the best time of my life. So many seniors around me feel the same about whatever they’ve chosen to engage with on campus — whether that be a cappella, Student Union, or club sports. They’ve put their time and energy into creating communities and have been rewarded with friendship, fun times, and funny stories. It’s just one of the things that makes WashU feel particularly special.  

To all of the seniors, congratulations! Sad, happy, nostalgic — it’s a privilege that we’re able to feel it all. 

Cheers, 

Clara