Crossword

When I started at Glass in 2021, I had just graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Creative Writing) and had the job prospects to match the degree. I'd quit my warehousing job without a backup plan, because spending nights moving clothes had eroded my soul, and because the cement floors were destroying my back.

When I applied for the vacancy at Glass, I thought I could at least do something related to journalism while I was studying it. I didn’t understand what student journalism was, didn’t have much to do with QUT, and certainly didn’t care about student politics.

Two years on, student journalism has become my bread and butter and QUT my beat. Everything I’ve had the opportunity to learn in a classroom or a textbook, I have had the privilege to put into practice at Glass.

2022 has been a turbulent year for student journalism. From the Semper Art of Shoplifting furor, to the On Dit editor dismissal by the Adelaide University Union Board, we have been reminded that what we do and what we write matters. Though we have “student” in our job titles, we don’t get to wear training wheels.

From QUT’s ongoing conflicts with students and staff, to the National Student Safety Survey findings, QUT has been a busy place, and as ever, we students have been busy.

Glass has in the past year published more work, by more people, at a higher standard than ever before, and I am so grateful to be a part of this upward trend. To the staff and executives of the QUT Student Guild, to my fellow editors with whom I have shared an office and years of my life, and to every submitter who trusted me with their work, thank you.

Editors’ Farewell Letters

In saying farewell to Glass, I’m excited to think that the publication lives on – for as long as there are students at QUT, and for as long as they are reading. Good luck to the incoming team, Ciaran, Konstanz, Ben, and Celeste. I challenge you to leave it in a better place than you found it. And to you, the Glass readers, thank you for giving me an opportunity to work with passion, and to care so deeply about a project in your community.

After nearly two years at Glass I now treasure student journalism, and consider the culture at QUT to be vibrant and evolving, even if I still don’t care about student politics and my back is still sore.

I hope this Annual will serve as a time capsule of the brilliant work of QUT students in 2022, and from all of us at Glass, I hope you enjoy it.

With love,

Tom Loudon

Editor in Chief

Ella

I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember. I started working as an editor at Glass in my second year of university, which allowed me to turn a hobby into a job – a rare thing in this capitalist society. I remember being excited to be a part of such a cornerstone of campus culture and have a platform for my mind that was brimming with ideas.

Over the years, Glass and I have grown together, and I’ve found my voice as the magazine has, in turn, done the same. I’m proud to see how Glass has grown into a polished, intelligent, publication for the QUT community. It’s a real gift to all of us: students, alumni, and staff. I feel honoured to have been a part of that over my two years at Glass.

One of the immense privileges of being an editor at Glass has been the permission to tell the stories of my peers through my writing and by curating the submissions to be featured in the magazine. As an editor, I have written articles I would want to read myself. I don’t believe in shying away from challenging topics. I think it’s essential to confront them head-on, to look the taboo straight in the eye. It’s been heartening to hear from so many Glassies about the comfort and feeling of solidarity these stories have brought to them. I have put some deeply personal things into words over these past two years, including an open letter to all men and an open letter to women. I am beyond grateful for the trust I have in the Glass community that I not only felt safe to share these experiences but also comforted by each person who read them.

This won’t be my final foray into journalism – my time at Glass has inspired me to study journalism alongside my law degree. I’ll always be a Glassie at heart, and I know it will shape my writing for years to come.

I want to thank everyone who was part of Glass and supported Glass during my time as an editor – I feel so grateful to have worked with you to make such a special publication for QUT students.

As I prepare to say goodbye to Glass, it feels like I’m saying goodbye to a beloved friend (as well as the actual friends I’m farewelling). Glass has been an integral part of my university experience and life thus far, and it’s been my privilege to make it part of yours too.

As always, with love,

Ella

Visit Glass online at qutglass.com

Follow us @qutglass

Subscribe to our newsletter

If you’re a fan of Glass, or would like to see your work in these pages, get involved with the Glass community today! Join the groups “Glassies” and “QUT Writers” on Facebook to be the first to see publication opportunities.

Get Involved